Alex sat on the bed in Joe's guest room. He had told her last night that it was now her room. She looked down beside her, Bob lay beside her. Alex stroked his head between his ears; he had stayed in her room all night. The only time he left was when Joe had come and got him to take him out that morning. Then Bob had thundered back up the stairs and pushed the door back open to get back on the bed with her. She looked up at Lester who was leaning on the door frame.
"Why did you really want me to come last night? Morelli told me something about the Courts but that doesn't sound like you." Lester said, "And you've been up here almost all morning, you haven't even eaten. What's up?"
Alex looked back down at Bob as he rolled onto his back exposing his underside. She ran her hand along his chest and over his stomach. "I'm afraid okay."
"What are you afraid of?" Lester asked. "Can't be Bob. He's been all over you since you came here."
"I'm not afraid of the dog." Alex looked back up at Lester. "I don't know if I can do this. All of it, I've never had a family before. He's my real father, the guy who I thought was my father he..."
Lester moved from the door and came and sat on the bed beside her leaning up against the wall like she was doing. "Morelli won't hurt you. Is that what you are afraid of?"
"How do you know he won't?"
Lester moved his hand and touched her chin so she would look at him. Alex looked into his green eyes. "Are you asking for my advice?"
"Yes."
"Because he's a good cop. You haven't been downstairs yet. He's called the Courts; he's already called the attorneys. He's faxed over the information to the Judge so they have your real name. The death certificate that was issued by the state is being revoked. Your father has been working his ass off all morning to make sure that you exist. Give him a chance; I think he'll surprise you."
"They had me as dead?" Alex asked him.
"Yes, the state had you as being dead. Anything else you want to know?" Lester asked.
Alex moved her head so her face wasn't touching his hand and got off the bed. She walked over to the dresser and started pulling out drawers, she hadn't even unpacked. She hadn't made it real yet.
"He won't let me go back and teach where I was." Alex spun around. "He wants me to go to another school."
Lester moved so he was on the edge of the bed now. "He doesn't want you near Spragget."
Alex nodded.
"I can't say I blame him Alex. He's trying to protect you."
Bob jumped off the bed and started barking when he heard the doorbell and took off out of the room.
Alex watched him go and then looked back at Lester. "So you think he's right? I don't want to have to do my gups over again. That's what's gonna happen if I go to another school. I don't want to have to take my junior black belt test again. I went two and a half hours for my black belt. It's not fair, I don't want to have to do that test again when I have to turn around and do the same thing for my adult black."
"Shit, is that what you went through to get that black belt?" Lester asked.
"Yes, it's the best school in Trenton, and the hardest. So what if James is there, I can handle James. James isn't the only instructor there, Master Jung comes in from New York to sit on the test boards, it was Master Jung who tested me and it was Master Jung who gave the okay for me to teach. James may run the school, but he's under Master Jung."
"Have you not told Morelli this?"
"He told me he wouldn't change his mind, ever. I don't want to have to go through a different school, because I don't want to lose Master Jung."
Alex watched as Lester stood up. "I'll talk to Morelli, but you are going to have to tell him this Alex. You have to make him see this, see how much you went through and how much you'll be losing. Maybe instead of talking to Spragget, he needs to be talking to Master Jung."
"What if he doesn't change his mind?" Alex asked.
"We won't know until we talk to him." Lester put his hand out. "You're bound to be hungry. Come on, let's get you something to eat."
Alex put her hand in his and followed Lester out of her room and down the stairs. She heard Joe talking at the dining table.
"Judge Moore wants us there in two hours. We can do that. So the results have come in?"
Alex looked at Joe; he still had the same clothes on that he had on last night. He looked up and Alex could see the stubble on his face and the growth that had come in. His hair was a mess and he was surrounded by paperwork all over the table.
"Thank you. We'll see you in two hours Mrs. Anderson." Joe hung up the phone. "You hungry?"
"I could eat something." Alex said letting go of Lester's hand and walking into the dinning room.
"Man your dog is nuts." Alex saw Jose coming out of the kitchen with a wet rag trying to wipe off Bob slobber off his pants.
"I see you met Bob." Alex said to Jose snickering. "What are you doing here?"
"Your father asked me to come." Jose threw the wet rag on the table. "He has to sign the contract papers so you can be my client."
Alex looked at Joe. Joe had a pen in one hand and the papers in the other. He was looking at Alex. "Not a bad deal here. Any proceeds you get will be going into an account you can't touch until you're eighteen."
"Why can't I have it now?" Alex asked.
"Because you're my responsibility till you are eighteen." Joe put the papers down and signed his name to it and passed them over to Jose. "How soon can you get a plane to China?"
Jose reached inside his back pocket and pulled out the tickets. "You're already set. Plane leaves at nine." He tossed Joe the tickets and picked up the contract. He looked at Alex. "You and I have a meeting scheduled as soon as you get back."
"Great, can't wait." Alex said as she walked around them and headed into the kitchen.
She heard Lester start talking to Joe about the karate school. Alex started pulling things out of the refrigerator. She was eating a banana when she saw Joe walk into the kitchen. He reached up and opened a cabinet and pulled down a glass.
"You put him up to this didn't you?" Joe asked.
"You never asked me why I even wanted to stay there. You just told me I couldn't." Alex told him.
Joe reached around her and opened the refrigerator and pulled out the juice, he poured a glass and handed it to her and grabbed another glass.
"And going to another school would be bad?" Joe asked. "I can't see it that way."
"Yes it would be bad. I'd go backwards on my belts by four gups. That's two years to do all over again. Then I'd have to go through the black belt test all over again. Even then I wouldn't be assured of a teaching spot." Alex downed the juice and set the glass back down.
"Two years doesn't sound real bad."
Alex groaned.
"You're being unreasonable." Alex told him.
"Unreasonable? I just signed a contract so you can get paid to talk to a Psychologist so he can write novels about your life. You have to give me something Alex, you just got China." Joe told her.
"China is one month, not two years I'd have to repeat, to earn those four gups back. That's too much to give up." Alex retorted.
Joe drank the juice and took his glass and hers and washed both of them and then put them in the strainer. He moved to the other side of the kitchen and leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. "You have me, you have China, give me those two years and let me watch you earn that black belt back."
"Why can't you just go talk to Master Jung about James?" Alex asked him striking the same pose across from him.
Joe started grinning. "No, that makes it too easy on you." He moved over to her and placed his hands on the counter beside her. "I missed a lot of your childhood just give me this one thing. Let me see what it takes to do what you did and why you love it so much."
Alex narrowed her eyes as she looked in Joe's brown ones. "I'll do it on one condition."
"What's that?" Joe asked with a smirk on his face.
"You have to enroll in the same school." Alex said with satisfaction.
"Done." Joe said. "We'll look into schools as soon as we get back and find one that is as good as the one you were in." He kissed the top of her head and moved away. "I'm not totally unreasonable, but don't think you can negotiate everything."
Alex watched as he walked out of the kitchen. "I'm going to shower. We have to be in Court soon."
"Shit." Alex moved back to the refrigerator and pulled stuff out to make a sandwich.
"Didn't quite go the way you wanted?" Jose asked.
Alex started making her sandwich. "He wasn't supposed to say yes."
Jose laughed.
Alex gave him a death glare. "Go to hell."
Jose laughed even more. "Just isn't your day today." He walked out of the kitchen. "Tell your father I'll call when you two get back."
Lester walked into the kitchen and started opening cabinets he pulled down a plate and handed it to her. He found some chips in the pantry and handed them to her along with some cookies.
"I told you he wouldn't change his mind." Alex said.
"You were right, but look at it this way. You'll be ahead of him in belts, so when he's on the floor in the dojo, he'll have to do what you say." Lester said.
Alex looked at Lester. "I didn't think about that."
"Got to give it to him though. He's willing to do what you like just so he can get to know you better Alex." Lester moved out of the kitchen. "Think about that."
The ride to the Court went faster than what Alex had thought it would. She walked in with Joe and Lester and they met with both of their lawyers just outside the courtroom. Everything felt more like a dream to Alex at this point. Being called in, the courtroom clearing out, and sitting behind the table. Alex had been lost in thought and quiet every since that talk in the kitchen. She was trying to rationalize just how much Joe was going to change her life. She wondered how much she was changing his. She knew she was acting like a little bitch, but that was what kept her alive where she lived. Alex didn't look up until Judge Moore had hit the gavel down and closed the proceedings.
"You can go home to your father now. I hope I don't have to see you in my courtroom again." The Judge said.
Alex looked at Sharlene. "Well, we lost." Sharlene said.
Alex leaned back and looked at Joe, "I don't know about that. Maybe this loosing thing is a good thing."
She saw Sharlene move so she couldn't see Joe. "Take care you, and if you ever need a lawyer. Give me a call."
Alex watched as Sharlene picked up her briefcase and walked out. Joe came over and sat down beside her.
"You ready to go home and pack?" Joe asked.
"I'm ready to eat. That sandwich didn't last long. I'm still starved." Alex said.
"Come on, let's go feed you." Joe said and stood up. "Where do you want to eat, Miss Morelli?"
Alex stood up, "It doesn't matter, just as long as it's food."
POV Change
Joe watched as Alex stood at the plate glass window looking at the airplanes. The afternoon had gone by rather quickly, he was surprised at how fast he had packed and got everything done so he could get away with his daughter. He left his cell phone, pager, badge, and gun with his Chief. Bob had been taken to Stephanie to watch for a month. Everything had been cleaned out of the apartment Alex had lived in and her room had boxes that had to be unpacked when they got back. Joe pulled out the box he had in his pocket. He had stopped last night at a jeweler's place and had a watch engraved for Alex. Mooch had picked it up for him after he had gotten Alex's apartment all packed up.
He smiled at her, it was her birthday today, and she turned fifteen. Ranger had set them up with fake passports under different names. He said everything was in motion and the hotel was already in place. Joe waved to Alex to come back over to him when she had turned around. Alex came and sat down beside him.
"Happy Birthday Kitten." Joe said as he handed her the box.
Alex took the box and opened it. She saw the watch and took it out, she flipped it over to look at the back. It had Medea Alexis Morelli written on the inside along with from your father, Joe. Joe watched as Alex put it on.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." Joe told her.
"Now boarding, international air to China..."
Joe didn't bother listening to the rest of the flights. He stood up, they only had the two carry-ons. Joe picked them up, "That's us."
Alex stood up and took Joe's hand after he had offered it to her. Joe led them to the ticket taker and then they walked through the loading area. Joe didn't release Alex's hand until they came aboard the plane.
"First class sir. Turn to your right and up the stairs." The stewardess said.
"Thank you." Joe said.
Joe continued on until he was in the first class area. He had never seen a plane this nice nor as big as this one. Each seat was spread out enough to give you all the room you needed. He found their seats; there were three of them and a big woman was already sitting by the window. Joe looked at Alex who had her brows raised.
"Hello." Joe said.
Joe saw the woman's head turn. "Hello." Came the thick heavy Italian accent.
Joe opened the top and stowed the carry-ons on top. He bent down to whisper in Alex's ear. "Be nice, we have a long flight."
Alex shrugged her shoulders and then sat down in the seat next to the very fat woman. "Hello." Alex said and then turned to look at the monitors in front of her.
Joe sat down. "This won't be so bad. Look at all the time we have to talk."
POV Change
Blade looked out the window to his right. The lights had been turned off a few hours ago and the seats laid back on the international flight. He had broken into Ranger's computer system and found out what was going on with his prey. He spent most of the day setting up things in order for him to make this flight. He couldn't believe his luck, they didn't recognize him.
Blade turned his head and looked at his prey as she slept peacefully beside him. The body suit was weighting on him, as was the make-up, and the contacts were making his eyes itch. He had changed his features so much he felt like a different person. He really wanted to rip it off, but it had come in handy. He had spent most of the time quiet as he listened to Joe and Alex talk. He could hear the parental concern in Joe's voice.
It made him sick knowing his prey was so close, he looked across Alex and saw Joe looking at him.
"You have a very lovely daughter," He said with his fake voice again.
"Thank you." Joe said. "First time to China?"
"No. My husband works in the Italian Embassy over there. I had to visit family over here, I'm going back home."
"Ah. How long have you lived there?" Joe asked.
"Four years. It's lovely. Pardon me for over hearing but I heard you are going to the Temple School in Beijing."
"Yes, it's only for a short time. Is it a good school?" Joe asked.
"One of the best, maybe we'll see each other sometime." Blade said.
"Maybe." Joe said and leaned back in his own seat.
Only too soon it will be. Just a little longer my sweet. Blade smiled at Alex and turned to look back out the window.
POV Change
Alex came out of the bathroom at the airport in China. Joe insisted on one of the airport staff going in with her. She came back out and looked at him cross.
"Why did I have to do that again? It was bad enough on the airplane that you insisted I have an escort to take a piss." Alex asked.
"Something isn't right." Joe put his hand on her neck. "I told you, I don't like this. I just can't put my finger on it."
Alex followed as Joe led them to a phone booth. He moved her so she was up against the wall and he was blocking her from view. "You know, I'm not two years old."
Joe looked at her. "I'm aware of that. Just humor me." He picked up the phone. "Italian Embassy please."
Alex crossed her arms, "If you think I want to spend anymore time around that fat tub of lard your crazy."
"Hush!" Joe commanded. "Yes, I'd like to speak with Monsieur Chardiea please. Thank you."
"Monsieur Chardiea, non lo conoscete ma ho speso appena un volo bello dall'America con la vostra moglie e lo ha invitato al pranzo, ma non è riuscito a dirmi un momento di venire." Joe said. (Monsieur Chardiea, you don't know me but I just spent a lovely flight from America with your wife and she invited me to dinner, but she failed to tell me a time to come.)
"Elemosino il vostro perdono. La mia moglie? Impossibile, non è stata mai in America. Chi è ancora questo?" Monsieur Chardiea responded. (I beg your pardon. My wife? Impossible, she has never been to America. Who is this again?)
Joe hung up the phone. He scanned the area he was at. He couldn't see her now, it was hard to miss a woman that large.
"Well?" Alex asked. "Please tell me we aren't going to dinner over there."
"Don't be silly." Joe took Alex's hand, "stay close. Don't let go of my hand whatever you do."
"Are you going to fill me in?" Alex asked.
"Do you know the woman who was sitting by us on the plane?" Joe asked as he weaved them out of the people in the airport.
"No." Alex said. "Why?"
"Later." Joe said.
Alex followed him to the baggage claim and Joe put her next to the counter as he looked for the bags. "Don't move."
Alex started looking around, she looked at Joe and could see the worry lines across his brow. His whole forehead was creased, the lines very visible. Alex turned to look right and saw the lady that was sitting next them on the plane ride. She blew a silent kiss her way and then pulled the gun out. Alex turned and dove towards Joe catching him in the side and they both went down to the floor. The sound of the gun cracked loudly in the airport. The man who was standing beside Joe fell to the floor blood spreading across his arm and onto the floor.
Alex saw Joe look at the man and then both his hands came up to her face as he made her look at him. "Was it her?"
"Yes." Alex said shakily.
Alex was rolled by Joe and he stood up first and pulled Alex up. He grabbed their two bags. "Get the carry-ons."
Alex grabbed the carry-ons. She could hear the police whistles as Chinese cops started running.
"Turn around and go. We didn't see anything." Joe told her.
Alex still couldn't believe this was happening. There wasn't anymore darts. The blood had been real, only too real. Alex was walking in a daze she didn't even remember getting out of the airport, or sitting in the cab to leave. The door was open now and she saw Joe's hand stretched out in front of her.
"Come on, Kitten. Stay with me here, now is not a good time to go into shock on me."
Alex took his hand. "How?"
"I'm not sure. Let's just get to our room and then we can figure out what to do next." Joe said.
Joe walked them inside as their bags were loaded on a trolley by one of the bell hops. Joe walked with Alex straight to the check in counter. Alex was vaguely aware of him giving the false name to the man at the counter and him saying that his wife was already in the room. Joe looked at Alex as they stepped in the elevator.
"Did Ranger say anything to you about this?" Joe asked her.
"About a wife? No, not that I remember." Alex said.
"Shit, I can't remember if he said that. The only thing I remember is he said he'd have someone in place."
Alex and Joe stepped out of the elevator and went to the room. Joe let Alex's hand go and started using the key fob to the door when it came open.
"I was beginning to worry about you two." Bella said.
"You?" Alex said. She turned and looked at Joe. "No way in hell I'm staying with this bitch."
"How is that to talk to your mother?" Bella said then she looked at Joe, "Ranger sent me ahead."
"I've got to call him." Joe looked at Alex. "Come on, we need to talk to Ranger. This won't be permanent."
Alex crossed her arms and walked past Joe and brushed up against Bella as hard as she could.
"Your room is two doors down on the left, why don't you go freshen up." Bella said.
Joe walked in behind Alex. "Where's the phone?"
"Over here." Bella said as she pointed to it.
Alex watched her as she tipped the bellhop and the bags were placed on the floor by the door. Alex walked over and grabbed her suitcase and headed to the room that Bella said was hers. She opened the door and walked inside and looked around. It wasn't bad. It was better than anyplace she had ever been in.
Alex placed the suitcase on the bed and then went to open the closet. Blade jumped and had his hand over Alex's mouth, the glove he had on was wet. Alex tried to scream, but it was no use, she had taken a deep breath and everything was starting to go hazy. He had pinned her to his chest, she tried to fight back but nothing was working like it should have.