Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter fourteen of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I'm glad it took just a week to get out. This chapter features some Andros/Ashley. The show featuring Lilli, Jane, and Izzy will come in the next few chapters. Stay tuned for chapter fifteen.

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Chapter 14: Midnight Speak

Clouds covered half the midnight sky above the Chant rental house. Trees dipped and swayed in the wind. A branch tapped a second-floor window. The house was rather large. It contained four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The backyard was surrounded by a wooden fence. The plank next to the gate was split at the top. Two orange horseshoe posts stood in the middle of the backyard. A horseshoe leaned against the first one.

Ashley stuck a glass under the kitchen sink faucet and turned on the water. She looked around the medium-sized kitchen. Its wall were green, as were its cabinets. It contained a bar with three stools. Its oak table had four matching chairs. Its floor was white and happened to be made of marble. She turned back to her water. She turned it off when her glass was more than halfway full.

She approached the refrigerator and opened the freezer. She grabbed four ice cubes. She put them in her water. She closed the freezer with a loud slam .She made her way over to the table. She seated herself at the head. She took a long sip of her water before setting it down. She folded her arms to lay them on the table. Footsteps caught her attention. She looked up to see Andros walking into the kitchen. He waved at her.

"Always looking for me, aren't you?" she teased.

"I can't help it," he said, coming to her right. He seated himself with a light grunt. "I get concerned when I find you are gone."

"I was thirsty. I thought I'd get some water," Ashley said as she tapped the rim of her glass with her finger. She grabbed it, taking another long sip of water. She set it down with a contented sigh. "I am glad the water tastes great out here. I don't think I could handle not having that."

"We always have bottled water," Andros pointed out. He laid his hands on the table. He tapped it with his fingers. "We can't name all the types of water since there are so many."

"Distilled water is the only pure form of water due to having had all its minerals removed," Ashley said.

"Tonic water has a very bitter flavor," Andros muttered and shuddered badly. "It's often used as a drink mixer for cocktails, especially those made for gin." He licked his lips.

"The most interesting thing about alcohol is that it affects each person differently. Some people get drunk on just one drink. Others can down lots of drinks before they start to feel its effects," Ashley whispered and raised her eyebrows.

"My parents enjoyed an occasional glass of wine," Andros said truthfully while grabbing a fistful of hair. "They took great care in how much they drank." He placed it on the table.

She giggled. "I enjoy laughing at drunk idiots hitting on Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess. She always responded with a punch to the face. That shows how much she didn't tolerate their catcalling."

"I am all for telling a woman she is attractive. However, it doesn't give a man the right to harass her if she doesn't respond," Andros grumbled.

"More women are harassed on the street than men are," Ashley said in a grim voice. "At the same, both sexes are equally likely to be harassed." She let out a fearful gulp.

"Any guy who tries to harass you will be hearing from me. If I have to, I'll fight him. No guy harasses my girl and gets away with it," Andros declared.

"I hope the catcaller's nice clothes are ruined. That is if he has them," Ashley said bluntly. "He deserves it."

He winked at her. "That's my girl."

He kissed her on the cheek. He rubbed it very gently and patted it. She slipped a lock of hair behind his ear. She straightened her pink nightshirt. She did the same to her night shorts. He smoothed out his gray t-shirt with both of his hands. He did the same to his blue shorts.

"I will always remember our very first trip to San Juan Island," Ashley admitted warmly.

"So will I. We got to get up close and personal with Willy and his immediate family," Andros said in amazement. "I can't believe they gained our trust so quickly."

"Me neither. They aren't the only ones who gained our trust so quickly. Polaris and Rhapsody did too," Ashley commented and moved her eyebrows up and down.

"Zhane couldn't resist taking a picture of me petting Polaris on her nose while I was kneeling on the rock as Star surfaced beside her at the Rubbing Rocks," Andros said, smiling. "That was a year after the camping trip."

"Polaris looked so happy to see us again," Ashley said in much sweetness.

"She sure did," Andros agreed. "Star was never far from her side."

"Star's orange areas were beginning to become lighter around the time we encountered her," Ashley murmured.

"I don't blame people for mistaking Star for Moby. They were born within months of each other," Andros pointed out with a shrug.

"Just months after Polaris had Star, Tahlequah gave birth to Notch. He got his name because of a notch in his dorsal. The notch was the result of an injury he received during his first year. Her designated number is J35. His is J47," Ashley explained.

"Tahlequah was just twelve years old when she had Notch. She didn't suffer any birth complications," Andros said in happiness.

"Notch was as healthy as he could be when he was born," Ashley replied and sighed contently. "He loves playing with Moby and Star."

"Who could blame those three orcas for being playmates?" Andros asked with a chuckle. "They are only months apart in age."

"Something tells me Notch got his notch from another orca playing too roughly with him," Ashley suggested.

"I agree with that theory," Andros said, holding up a finger. "Unfortunately, we may never know how he actually got that notch."

"It doesn't matter. He is very easy to identify," Ashley whispered and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Yes, indeed," Andros said, nodding slowly.

She took his hand into hers. She gave it a gentle squeeze before picking up her water to take a small sip of it. She put it down with a soft sigh. He placed his other hand over hers. He rubbed it lightly.

"I am getting a little nervous about going to Northwest Adventure Park tomorrow," he admitted.

"I am too," she replied. "I am beginning to think that Lilli and Isabella could be one in the same." She felt her body tense. "At the same time, I don't want to be disappointed to find out it isn't true."

"I feel like you do in both scenarios," Andros commented, swallowing hard. "It is good to know that DNA analysis has advanced quite a bit since its introduction into crime-solving."

"So many former inmates have been cleared of wrongdoing due to DNA," Ashley exclaimed. "Unfortunately, they can never get back the years they lost due to being behind bars."

"I think wrongfully convicted people should be compensated for those lost years," Andros said bluntly. "They deserve it."

"Adjusting to life outside of a prison is very challenging. For those who have spent decades there, they have to adjust to advanced technology," Ashley murmured.

Andros grabbed his IPhone from his pocket. "I love that we can do so many things on this device."

"I do too," Ashley squeaked with delight. "Who would've thought we'd own IPhones one day?"

"Most people didn't when they were very young. It is amazing how time flies these days," Andros said, returning his IPhone to his pocket. "Anyway, I hope DNA can prove that Lilli and Isabella are on in the same."

"DNA analysis is extremely accurate," Ashley said matter-of-factly. "The chances of it being wrong are almost nil."

"Some women have doctored paternity results of their children in hopes of getting child support from men," Andros mumbled in great disgust.

"That is paternity fraud," Ashley responded in anger. "Greed is the number one reason why women do something so devious."

"No shit," Andros agreed with a loud shudder. "Women have forged wills and life insurance policies. They have killed their men to profit off their deaths."

"Men have done both with their women," Ashley said and emitted a loud snort. "Both men and women have taken out life insurance policies on their children. They have killed them to cash in."

"It is so disgusting," Andros mumbled, tensing badly.

"Oh, yes," Ashley agreed bitterly. "It is bound to make bile rise into normal people's throats."

"You will never see me commit any type of fraud," Andros declared.

Ashley exhaled. "Me neither."

Andros patted his girlfriend's hand very lightly. He removed his from it and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of it twice. He put it and his back on the table.

"Randolph was smart to bring a vial of Isabella's blood with him," Ashley said and pressed her lips together.

"If he hadn't, he could take the ferry back to San Juan Island to get it," Andros said, letting out a loud exhale.

"Unfortunately, that would take him an entire day to get it," Ashley muttered with a frown.

"I pray to God that Lilli and Isabella turn out to be the same orca," Ashley whispered in a little uncertainty.

"I do too," Andros whispered, sighing heavily. "I hope Brenda can help us bust Dial once we find out the truth."

"If Lilli turns out to not be Isabella, then we will have to accept the fact that she will spend the rest of her life at Northwest Adventure Park," Ashley mumbled, sadness lining her voice. "That tank is too small for a young orca like her."

"The Angel Grove Aquarium's orca stadium would be the perfect home for Lilli. It has more than enough space for her to leap and dive," Andros exclaimed. "Of course, Dial wouldn't sell her to that place if his life depended on it." He frowned.

"Unfortunately," Ashley said and picked up her water. "What do you say we go back to bed? I am getting tired."

"Sure," Andros agreed. "Let's go."

Andros and Ashley stood up and walked out of the kitchen. They went through the living room. The room happened to be large. The walls were green. It had a couch, two armchairs, and a glass coffee table. The TV sat across from the couch in an entertainment center. A DVD player was above it. The floor was hardwood. It was mostly covered by a gray square-shaped rug. They headed upstairs at a steady pace.