Chapter 9
I awoke feeling happy and contented, the day was just beginning to lighten so it must have been earlier than I realized, but I felt replenished and ready for the day. I lifted my eyes to the face of the man I loved and who loved me. His hair had fallen over his face and I had to resist sweeping it away, I had never come across this situation, when I was awake and he was still asleep, I wanted to feel the intimacy of that touch, as I knew he often tucked my curls behind my ear, was his touching me a way of him showing intimacy to me? His skin was relaxed, the lines that would appear, depending on his moods were smooth, he looked younger and without a care in the world. He was beautiful, if that is a word to describe a man, with the shadow of growth on his face and the definition of his cheeks, nose and chin and that beautiful mouth that was as magical as his hands. I couldn't resist I moved my lips across his, then across to his ear and sucked on his lobe whilst my hands gently moved from his shoulders down his chest feeling the contours of his muscles, he had no need of modesty because to me he was perfect. I felt a slight movement and looked to see his lips turn up in a smile. I continued my exploration down to the beginning of the hair on his hips, as it seemed to draw me, my mouth followed tracing his nipples and biting slightly, French kissing his belly button and moving even further down. I moved my body to below his hips and began to move the sheet that had gathered, my hands cupping and massaging his sacs whilst my tongue lathed at his already hard erection. My hands stroked and teased, while my mouth explored, sucking in the skin on his hips at the side of his shaft to leave a mark. Carlos had been very still and quiet as though savoring the moment, now he groaned out loud and arched his hips up, as if inviting me to continue. I took his shaft into my mouth as deep as I could, using my tongue and teeth as I moved up and down, the lower part received the force of a hand around it, I moaned from my chest, the vibration travelling out through my mouth. His moans got louder and his hands slid into my curls as I increased the movement, I could feel the tightening in his sacs, his hands tightening in my hair and with one last thrust of his hips I felt the eruption of his sperm as it entered my mouth and his orgasm as it rolled through him. I swallowed until all his liquid had gone, savoring the tangy, salty taste left in my mouth. As I lifted my head Carlos pulled my body up to lay on his, our mouths dancing and tongues delving, his taste now in both our mouths, god I was so wet and turned on. The passion continued with hands in each other's hair to change the angle and hold us tightly together. In one move he turned me on my back and with his hips between mine I felt his erection close to my opening. I moaned into his mouth and writhed my body for him to enter me, my hand moved his shaft across my wet folds, and then I raised my hips and wrapped him with my legs, my ankles crossed below his ass. Slowly he deepened within me, I savored every inch as it reached my womb and using my calf muscles encouraged him to go faster.
"Faster, deeper"
"Harder, hotter"
That is what he gave me, as muscles began to vibrate and my back arched in anticipation, his hand nipped and alternated rubbing on my already swollen clit, and I repeated his mantra to him.
"Come with me"
With the second thrust, my world fell into the abyss, every muscle contracting and sensations running from my toes to my head, I screamed out his name until there were stars in my eyes and my heart felt ready to explode. He rode out my orgasm and turning on his back brought my body over him, nuzzling my hair, with his hands on my head and my back, holding me close to him.
"I love you even more Babe and not because of the lovemaking, I feel a connection that I don't want to give up"
I had tears in my eyes at that statement, was this really happening? I sighed,
"I don't want to leave here, I want to stay in your arms like this"
"I know, but unless you want Ram and Hector in here with us I need to get up, take your time and I'll go get breakfast sorted"
I watched his naked ass cross the room; he stopped and turned, looking back at me.
"Your ass is even better to look at"
With a laugh I threw a pillow at him. After he showered and dressed I got up out of the bed and peaked through the window, wow, the sea was calm and gentle, lapping onto the shore of white sand, the sun was shining and the sky was clear and blue. Time to get going, so with shorts and a strappy top over a bikini I literally danced down the stairs into the kitchen. Both Hector and Ram looked up at my exuberant entry and Hector got up to hug me.
"Buenos días hermana"
"Buenos días hermano"
"Breakfast is served Babe"
I sat down to an omelet that covered my plate and was full to the brim with cheese and peppers and probably other things I didn't recognize, Ram put a coffee next to me and that was me satisfied for the time being. I looked up to see three men grinning at me, and two sitting back in their chairs.
"Don't mind them Estefania, I enjoy listening to you"
Oops, forgot about that, I looked down at my plate feeling the color rise up on my cheeks, then focused on eating and being quiet.
"That tasted amazing, I could wake up to that every morning"
"So could I Babe"
I smiled, hoping only I understood what he was referring to, Hector laughed and Ram looked puzzled as we cleared and tidied up. Hector hooked his arm through mine and led me to the sunroom where computers had been set on desks against the back wall.
"Whatever you're doing keep doing it. I've never see him so happy before"
Definitely time to divert that discussion.
"OK Hector what do we have?"
"Search results from Silvio for you to do magic on, Ranger talk to Juan"
I made myself comfortable in a soft-pillowed whicker chair, legs under me and began reading the files. After reading both I sat on the floor and spread the papers out in front of me. Hector handed me a bright pink highlighter pen, he knows me so well. The searches were on Beatrice Lang and Charlotte Rains and were detailed as per normal from Silvio. Each one gave the reader a sense of who these women were and their history. I tried to find anything that they had in common and came up with nothing; in fact there was so much nothing it had my spidey senses tingling. I picked up a pen and pad; dividing the sheet into three columns I wrote their names at the top of columns 2 and 3. In the first column I wrote the information I wanted for each woman, things that Silvio had found and things I needed to find. After an hour I moved away from Silvio's paper work and logged into a laptop, I accessed archived newspaper articles and church news letters, at one stage I even asked Carlos for the name of the church his grandmother had attended and added that, I searched for their parents names and a combination of their names including Hungarian translations. I delved into the register for the Burg at the time my Grandmother had said she had known Beatrice. With so many searches running I stood up stretching and headed for the kitchen for a drink and food. Carlos was at the table on his laptop and phone at the same time, he moved his chair back and pulled me onto his lap while still talking. I could hear Tanks voice coming from the phone.
"When you have more get back to me"
Still no phone manners!
"How's your search going?"
"Going, I'll tell you later when they finish and I can analyze them, what was the news from Juan and Tank?"
"A few things from Juan in Miami, first the investigators determined sabotage on the plane, so Juan has a team going through video footage at the airport and cars, people seen there. The stakeout at the house came up with no movement at all. Juan has spoken with some of our aunts who might have attended functions with Abuela Rosa and seen this woman but nothing so far; he plans on visiting the church this evening to talk with some of the older congregation. Now for Trenton, both your mother and Morelli have been phoning the office demanding to know where you are, Tank has just repeated that you left town on a job that had nothing to do with us, no one's put together the plane crash with you, though they knew I was onboard"
"Oh well I'll have to call on my parents tomorrow and maybe give Morelli a call"
"Lunch Babe?"
"Please I'm starving"
"I have a special treat, you won't need anything on your feet"
With that strange comment he picked up a basket and holding my hand led me through the sunroom and down onto a decking area. We didn't stop there, which is where I thought we were heading, instead we continued to the end of the yard and through a gate onto the beach. We walked only a few yards to the left where Carlos put the basket down and got out a blanket, with the blanket spread on the sand I sat down cross legged while Carlos sat opposite me and proceeded to place containers between us.
"I haven't had a picnic on the beach for years, in fact since I was a kid"
"Good I'm glad, maybe a memory for us then"
The food was delicious and contained lots of items to pick up and eat, vegetable rolls, tiny sandwiches, Cranberry Crostini, Nut and Cheese Gougères, Pork Rind Oyster Snacks, Nachos, Mozzarella sticks, cheese and fruit. I loved every bite spending a lot of my time feeding Carlos while he fed me.
"I enjoyed that and you made it made it feel special, thank you"
"Babe you are special and you make something as simple as eating lunch special, thank you"
We tidied everything back into the basket and as we got to the back gate I took off running toward the sea. I was laughing as I realized Carlos was behind me, laughing as well, but I got to the edge of the water before he caught me from behind. He swept me off my feet and swung me around before putting me down. I stepped back onto dry sand and fell back, to then lie down on the sand. Carlos knelt down behind me at my head and holding my head gave a very passionate kiss, upside down? He pulled his head up and looked into my eyes.
"Love you Babe, you light up my life, you make anything special"
"I love you too, and it's only special because you are with me"
A quick kiss on the forehead and with his hands under my armpits he lifted me to my feet. It was time to get back to my work.
The searches had all finished when I got back so I moved furniture and started to place the papers around me on the floor. I'd got some interesting snippets of information so now I needed to look at the detail, what was that saying ah yes 'the devil is in the detail" I pulled out my pen and pad again and listed some facts from where I had highlighted the details.
Known facts
Beatrice Lang and Charlotte Rains do not exist, both their backgrounds are elaborate, but bogus.
There are enough similarities from searches to say that they are the same person playing these roles.
The woman, whom ever she may be did exist as a child and lived for a time in Trenton in the Burg.
She was catholic and white.
She wasn't born here in America.
Initially she was raised by just an adult, not sure whether this was a parent or relative.
She had no close relatives when she moved into America.
What I think/feel
She is probably Hungarian
She came to America between 1948 and 1956 and I based this on some historical notes I'd taken. Taking in the fact that she wasn't Jewish so not affected by German occupation, a major consequence of World War II was the Soviet occupation of the country in 1945, followed by a communist dictatorship in 1948. Eight years later a revolution broke out in response to this oppression in 1956. Ten days later the Soviet army crushed the uprising and the Hungarian communists were restored to lead the party-state. In the wake of defeat, 200,000 Hungarians escaped to neighboring Austria and about 38,000 found haven in the United Sates.
That put her age between 68 and 76, assuming grandma remembered their age as being 6 years old.
Her first name was Beatrice when she was in America, not too sure on that, but it felt right.
To do next list
Talk to Grandma to see if she remembers where she lived and if she went to a local school.
From above find record of house owner and if they rented it out, whom to?
If she went to a school check records if they still exist, talk to others in same class.
Check immigration records, though not sure what name was used to come in with.
Questions
Is she still alive? Where is she, what name is she using now? What does she look like?
Why Rosenbaum Bank?
Why, why, why.
Is Ranger part of her elaborate plan?
Why, why, why?
Is she a good person with good intentions or NOT, the devil?
Why me?
I cleared all my papers into files and stacked them ready to put them somewhere safe, as I did this more questions kept swirling in my head. Who is she working with, who was following me in Miami, who sabotaged the plane, are they all the same person and if she wants me to carry on and find something are we up against two opposing groups?
Now I needed to stop because I definitely was getting a headache. I roamed the house looking for someone and eventually gave up and with a bottle of water in one hand and my list in the other I walked out to a lounge chair in the shade, curling up on my side I fell asleep.
I was awoken by fingers gently caressing my face, I knew who it was, I could feel him, which might be a weird thing to say but I had always been aware of when Carlos was near and in the last few days that awareness had heightened, plus I could smell the intoxicating aroma of Bulgari and Ranger.
"Where were you, I looked for you?"
"I'm sorry Babe, I should have let you know that Hector and I were in the garage equipping the cars for tomorrow"
"S'okay"
"You seemed engrossed, how did you get on?"
My piece of paper had creased so I tried to flatten it out before handing it to him. He sat me up and then sat behind me and very quietly read what I had written. I expected questions or at least maybe a "I think you're wrong" but after he'd read it, at least twice judging be how his eyes moved back to the top, he looked at me and kissed my forehead.
"Proud of you Babe, your mind is amazing to have found this out and to think ahead, to plan"
"I've got a load of other questions that keep popping up that makes this feel like something big is going down, like who is she working with, who was following me in Miami, who sabotaged the plane, are they all the same person and if she wants me to carry on and find something are we up against two opposing groups?"
I'd rolled those questions around in my head so often I could quote myself.
"Well we certainly have our work cut out, what do you want me to do, or Hector? You can't do all of this on you own"
"I don't know, we're back to Trenton tomorrow so I suppose we need to sort that out tonight before we leave, what time are we leaving tomorrow?"
"Let's all have dinner first then sit down and look at the logistics of it all"
Carlos explained to me what the meal was that he and Hector had prepared, it was called Pescado Encocado, and was a Cuban traditional coastal dish of fish, seasoned with citrus and spices and then cooked in a sauce of cilantro, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and coconut milk, served with brown rice and a typical Cuban salad, Ensalada Cubana, consisting of red tomatoes, onion, iceberg lettuce, radishes, garlic and white vinegar. Everything was delicious and probably very healthy, maybe I could get into healthy eating if my meals were like this? When we'd finished eating and tidying up the kitchen we moved into the sunroom, Hector and Ram drank coffee while Carlos and I had water. Carlos gave copies of my paper to each of the men as I sat down, nervous as to what they would make of it; Ram was the first to speak.
"You sure she's Catholic Steph?"
"Pretty sure, lots of behaviors from the searches to substantiate that, why?"
"Two things really, Rosenbaum Bank is a bank whose founder sympathized with the Jews and over time has become an advocate for ethnic minority groups and well, between 1941 and 1945 more than half a million Hungarian Jews – two thirds of the country's Jewish population – were killed, I'm sure many will have tried to leave the country"
"Babe Ram's the go to person for history, especially World War 2. Ram would you put together a brief report we can read that might highlight the political play from that time?"
"Sure, it was a country in upheaval for quite a while"
I knew from Grandma bits and pieces though she never really explained much to me, and my history of Hungary wasn't good, maybe as I have Hungarian blood in me I should have found out more, hell all I ever acknowledged was my Hungarian hormones, how sad is that? I was lost in thought for a minute and maybe guilt for not knowing more.
"Babe? Hector can you follow up on the entry of immigrants during the time span"
"Si, but could be like looking for needle in haystack"
"Babe you follow up with your Grandmother and other local leads, I'll work with Juan from a Rangeman perspective"
I nodded my head, where had my happy gone? The three guys continued talking but I wasn't tuned into their conversation, I was still mulling over the possibility that this had some connection to something that was basically history and seemed so removed from me, I really needed to set that right. After an hour or so I yawned loudly, excusing myself I headed upstairs. I needed to pack and sort clothes out for tomorrow, must remember to give Carlos the files and all the paperwork I'd collected on my trip, they'd be safer at Rangeman than in my apartment. When Carlos came to bed I was still awake and I think he could tell that I was a bit down with myself.
"Babe, you OK?"
"Yeah"
"I smell smoke, what's eating at you?"
"I don't know, I just feel that I took my heritage for granted"
"No you didn't, your family has never been into reflecting or taking on board where they came from"
"Yours do"
"Different culture, that's easier to embrace, and I have a larger family that still enjoys all things Cuban"
"I suppose so"
"Come here"
With that he folded me into his arms and slowly began to kiss and caress me. Our lovemaking was unhurried, sensual and tactile, prolonging the emotions and feelings that swept though me. There were only quiet murmurs and sighs and when we both felt our release, I could see a different look in his eyes, tenderness, love and devotion? We had come so far together in such a short time; I hoped that this was what we would continue to have when we moved back home and Carlos wouldn't think he'd made a mistake.
Chapter 10
I was woken by random movements from Steph, she was muttering in her sleep as her arms began to flail around her, I enclosed her in my arms holding her tightly to me and began to whisper to her in Spanish, I knew that this might calm her. In the past, many times I would break into her apartment, especially after one of her traumatic events, and find the need to calm her from a nightmare, my presence seemed to have that affect on her subconsciously, as she rarely woke. And truth be told there were times when I needed to be in her presence to help me quell some of the demons I still carried, I often woke during the night from visions of horrendous scenes encountered on missions. It was at times like those that I would seek her out, to ground myself, feel centered and as my blue-eyed angel she unknowingly had that effect on me. This time I needed her to wake up and was relieved when she calmed and her eyes began to flicker open.
"You're OK Babe, I've got you"
She grunted and avoided looking at me, must have been a bad dream.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not really, a conglomeration of things all mixed up together"
"Get yourself dressed and organized and I'll go make us some breakfast"
Hector and Ram were already in the kitchen, Hector was making pancakes and Ram was choosing condiments to go onto the table, I poured two coffees and laced Stephs with sugar and cream. Ram and I sat down to bagels already on the table; Hector piled the pancakes onto a plate presumably for Steph.
"You told her about the car yet?"
"No Hector, I thought we could show her together, when we're ready to set off"
He laughed.
"You mean leave it till the last minute so's she can't argue"
He was probably right and I still needed to put some other things in place to ensure her safety, hopefully without her independent anger coming to the surface. Babe came in and placed her rucksack by the door and handed me a number of files.
"Can you keep these safe at Rangeman for me, I don't trust leaving them in my apartment?"
Interesting, she assumed she was going back to her apartment and I'd assumed we'd be together on seven. After last night I couldn't envisage not sleeping next to her or her being a constant in my world. A conversation we needed to have in private and that wouldn't be happening until maybe this evening, I would be sleeping next to her even if it were in that place of hers.
"Good idea Babe"
Steph was still quiet even when she ate and she hadn't eaten as much as I would have expected, she seemed anxious, and I didn't blame her, I felt the same. When all was tidy I set the alarms and closed up the house leading Steph into the garage, she stopped once inside staring at the car in front of her and frowned.
"It looks like my Nissan Pathfinder, but doesn't?"
I smiled at how perceptive she was.
"Well it is and it isn't. Al took your car into the work shop and remodeled a new one to look exactly the same as yours"
"You mean he beat up the panels and added rust?"
Her voice was beginning to rise, so I needed to take evasive moves.
"Babe the car in front of you will keep you safe, the engine will give you better acceleration to get you out of danger and the body surrounding you is bullet proof, go with this, please"
I think the magic word worked because she sighed, then looked at me.
"I don't really have much choice do I? Next time at least talk with me first. What else is there? As I'm thinking Hector must have added more if you two were in here all yesterday afternoon"
I smiled and holding her to me whispered in her ear.
"Thank you, I am sorry I didn't talk with you about it, but time was short and I need for you to be safe. I've just got you in my life and I couldn't bare it if something were to happen to you"
"OK, Hector what have you added?"
"Trackers as usual, panic button, sat nav, in car phone system and the pièce de résistance, a camera in the interior light holding that will give 360 degree views. You can pull that up on the sat nav screen if you feel you're being followed or approached"
"Does that mean Rangeman is watching my every move?"
"No Estefania, the feeds go only to Rangers and my phone through special app I make, but if panic button go off or tracker off line then alert go out, as has done in past"
Steph walked round the car then opened the door,
"Oh well I suppose it looks the same, so what else do you think you need to discuss with me?"
There was an edge to her voice, she knew me too well sometimes.
"I'd like Santos either with you or shadowing you, you were followed in Miami and a plane you were on crashed, I don't want you out there on your own"
"I can cope with Lester, but there'll be times when he'll need to stay in the background, especially if I'm trying to talk with people. Who's gonna have your back?"
All right she had a point and if I could show her that I was willing to have the same as her then I would.
"I'll have similar features on the car I drive and I'll always have one of my men with me, fair enough?"
"Yes, see that wasn't such a hard discussion to have was it?"
"Smartass"
Steph let Hector drive after a stand off in front of her car, Hector had the keys and you could see the moment when she realized she wasn't going to win. Ram and I loaded our gear into a black SUV and I drove us back to Rangeman in silence. Hector had planned on stopping for lunch just outside of Trenton so that our arrival wouldn't be construed as a coincidence. Santos would be at Stephs apartment when she arrived having already checked it out. Her plans were to spend the remainder of the afternoon there making phone calls, then head to her parents' house for dinner. I needed to catch up with my team and be up to date with the crash investigation, Cal's undercover work and aspects of the business. My arrival onto the fifth floor didn't seem to spark any more interest than usual, the men would have seen me arrive in the garage so they knew I expected a working atmosphere on the floor, Tank and Bobby were waiting outside my office so we entered and got down to business.
"Tank you first"
"Security has been real quiet, no break ins, there are a couple of clients who are after security for new businesses starting up, no contact from the FBI but I think you should talk with Cal, some interesting conversations have come his way. Juan's been in touch, evidence of tampering on the plane, pretty low tech really, but nothing from any cameras or witnesses, no prints that they could find. The insurance agents have taken over so expect a call. He also says he's found nothing down in Miami and nothing from the letters, no one remembers that woman, a lot who would, have died since, so a dead end there, he'll keep at it though"
"Bobby?"
"The new recruits seem to be turning things around, physically more able and should pass our standards next week, one still has a bit of an attitude but he's learning"
"That Hickman?"
"Yeah, but he's fast and intuitive"
"OK if that's it from you I'll bring you up to speed with what's happening now"
I explained the precautions we'd taken to keep Steph safe, informing them of Santos and Hector being with her at all times and her insistence that I do the same, Tank actually laughed at that.
"There are copies of the letters Steph was given and the searches she did with some conclusions she came to, but there are still too many questions. Ram and Hector are helping to try and fill in some of the background while Steph works it through on the streets, have a read through her files and if there's anything get back to me"
Both got up to leave, but as Tank got to the door he turned.
"You know she's got some of the best instincts I know of, don't you?
"Yeah Tank, but I have a terrible feeling something fubar is going to happen"
"You get your head outta your ass?"
I glowered at him, was I that obvious?
"Send Cal in please"
I booted up my computer and opened files that needed attention while waiting for Cal; he knocked at the door and entered, I indicated the seat across from my desk.
"Report Cal"
"I've infiltrated into a group of about five bikers who are new in town. According to them there was a request, source unknown, to come to Trenton and stir things up with some of the local gangs, cause disruption, beat a few up and cause general chaos. They think there are about twelve other men in two groups doing the same. Any communication comes through Whatsapp, which as you well know has a strong encryption on it; hell even Homeland can't break in. They reckon something's going down soon, but until they're told they don't know what and won't until the minute they have to act. Word is that the person or persons who are giving the orders are not part of any biker group, but are sympathetic to the bikers causes, which are right-wing extremists who are motivated by racist and anti-Semitic views. They also think that one of these leaders is going to play a big part of the action sometime soon"
"So this is a short term move? Do you think they are being used to create a distraction?"
"Yeah, these guys are playing around, not here for the long haul"
"Cal work the rest of this week, three nights, then take the weekend off and go back Monday, and I don't really want you to be seen here, too many visitors that may blow your cover"
"Thanks boss, I'll get anything to you as soon as I have it, secure phone?"
"I think so, no problems with the wire?"
"None"
As Cal left I put my elbows on the desk resting my chin on my joined fists, what the hell was the purpose of a distraction like that? Enough of a distraction that the Feds couldn't see through it? It was coming close to six and a quick check on Stephs trackers had her at her parents house, I'd work for an hour and then check in with Santos, I'd be with her tonight so he could go off duty. It was seven thirty when Stephs tracker showed her back at her apartment, I phoned Santos.
"Report"
"Everything quiet until about 1830, then Morelli turned up at her parents house, Steph came charging out, drove around and about for quite awhile and is now tucked up in her apartment. I'd say she's in a shit mood"
"I'm on my way, go off duty when I get there, then pick up with her tomorrow"
"Will do"
I drove over to Stephs in the Turbo and parked in the space Santos vacated, I acknowledged him with a nod then proceed up the stairs to her apartment. Should I knock or just break in, hell why spoil the habit of a lifetime. Once I'd locked the door behind me I walked in looking for her, eventually finding her in the bedroom in her thinking position, wearing shorts and one of my T-shirts, with a pillow over her head that was hanging over the foot of the bed. I walked in quietly and knelt at her head pulling the pillow off and enclosing her lips with my mouth.
"I could get used to upside down kissing, sure beats upside down pineapple cake"
"Good to know"
I wasn't going to push her to talk; she often needed time to process what had happened before she spoke.
"I had a good day until an hour ago, then it went to shit, how was your day darling?"
Not good she was pissed at something or someone.
"Fair, until I got here then it became incredible, missed you today"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to have a go at you"
"I'm here if you want to talk"
"Grandma doesn't know anything more, only that Beatrice was a constant companion for a short time, she didn't think she went to school and never went to where she lived, so basically a dead end. I got some names of other friends at the time, as least those who haven't died yet"
"Sometimes crossing things off the list makes it easier to focus on the rest"
"Yeah well my mother went and sneaked a call to Morelli when I arrived there and he had the nerve to show up. Between them they harassed me about being out of town and not telling them what I was doing, then, from my mother, I got the usual crap about settling down with Morelli, and he just sat there nodding his head like one of those god dam toys in a car. I drove around for awhile just in case he decided to ambush me here"
"So he still thinks he's a part of your life? Is he?"
"What? He can think what he likes, but I have made a choice and you mister had better like it"
With that I kissed her nose, upside down, and proceeded to tickle her on her ribs and side of her stomach. After five minutes both of us were rolling, squirming and laughing. I'd never thought before how something so simple could be so special, I'd never spent any time or energy doing that before. I stopped moving and just looked at her.
"What is it?"
"I love you Babe"
We moved into the lounge and settled onto the couch with a beer each, comfortable just watching the TV.
"I smell something burning"
"I think I'm gonna go to the bank Friday"
"Why then?"
"Well it gives me tomorrow to call at the office and see if there are any new files, do a bit more research and…"
"And what?"
"I don't want to drag this out and worry about it over the weekend"
"OK but I'd like you at Rangeman by 1600, that's 4 in the afternoon tomorrow, to put some plans in place"
"Fine by me"
I wasn't sure about the bank visit but it had to happen sooner rather than later, it was trying to make sure we had enough contingency plans in place, because where Steph was involved nothing went to plan. We were watching a film when I felt Steph relax and her breathing slow down, carefully I carried her to the bed and gently placed her in it pulling up the covers. I checked the doors and windows, turned the TV and lights off and climbed in next to her.