One eye cracked open as she felt a warm furry…..wait wait...furry? Both eyes snapped open to see a furry paw tapping her face. NELSON…..she mentally screamed. She leaned over to see dog's best friend snuggled and obviously in dreamland. She fell back onto her pillows and giggled; nobody would believe that nothing happened in her bed. Definitely not for lack of interest on both parties…..no too much wine…more's the pity.
She sighed; duty calls...again. Let Nelson out, then coffee, lots of coffee.
1 time...the 1 time she had switched off her cell-phone…...Ardilles was dead...so was J.J. La Roche…..the entire ex-CBI team members had their cell-phones bugged. Her mind was reeling,...the endless possibilities and suspects only added to her distress. At the back of her mind was that awful thought which she refused to admit even to Jane…...The Blake Association…..RedJohn's accomplices. For if it were true; none of them would make it out alive.
She stared at the computer screen…..time was against them...an unseen menace….no face to put on their nemesis. Who had the resources, the power to do this? Grace was still trying to isolate the hacker and that took time. Her fingers froze; oh my god...Joe, Nelson….she had to send them away...they were in danger. Images of RedJohn's handiwork flashed through her brain working her emotions into a frenzy. Golden rule...family and friends were liabilities, complications when you've got someone after you.
She wished she could turn off her emotions like Jane; speaking of the devil...he was back on his couch. To an onlooker; it gave the totally wrong impression but she knew better. The human computer was in motion, wheels turning and gears moving. Damn...damn..damn…..Joe wasnt a fool; her calling him hourly was bound to start him sniffing around. She threw her phone into her bag. 5 hours to get through.
She practically ran all the way to the doorstep only to have Joe pull open the door and by the look on his face…...she had a lot of explaining to do. Nelson wasnt his joyful self as if sensing the tension between them. He had made her take a bath saying she needed to relax and gather her thoughts. Dressed in her jammies; she tentatively stepped into the kitchen. Spotless and not a thing out of place; Joe was a better housekeeper. He held out a cup of hot cocoa...she nearly burst out laughing…..cocoa...the world was falling apart and he gave her cocoa.
Nelson had long run off to who knows where when the shouting started. She was so angry she wanted to break something preferably the stupid jackass's face. He could protect himself….yeah right…..in desperation she had shown him the crime scene photos of Ardiless and RedJohn's victims only excluding Angela and Charlotte Ruskin; she owed Jane that at least. Did that sway Joe? No….said he had seen worst things in the Gulf. Said it was his duty to protect her. How asinine could he get? Finally she broke down; she didnt want lose either or them. Joe pulled her into his arms and carried her to bed; Nelson appearing out of the blue and trailing them silently. They both needed to be held by each other.
I'll protect you from the hooded claw, keep the vampires from the door…..
When the chips are down, I'll be around
With my undying death-defying love for you
The power of love, a force from above
Cleaning my soul
Flame on burn desire
Love with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal
The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood