Welcome to short story month! The first in 2016 and in an effort to get through some of the short stories and knock some off my list there will be three this year.
We moved into the new house but are still unpacking and work is still busy and will remain so until after tax season so expect some short chapters. I'll try not to skip any but it's likely some chapters will be short.
Ch. 2 Fire on the Porch on a Summer's Night
(OWEN)
"AAAAGGHHH!" Kira screams running from me. She runs through the entry just as Clare comes home. "Sade me," Kira says to Clare running behind her and gripping Clare's leg.
"Auntie Clare can't save you," I comment running over and tickling my wife who screeches and giggles. Then I pick up Kira and tickle her until she can hardly breathe and I set her down.
"It's nice to come home to some laughter," Clare smiles giving me a sweetly passionate kiss.
"It must be a bad one," I remark.
"When they call me in they usually are. Where are Tris and Tony?" Clare asks.
"Having some wine on the deck, Kira got bored so we were playing tickle monster," I tell Clare.
"Again," Kira cheers pulling at my pants.
"I think it's time for you to settle down how about we put you in the treehouse hammock with a movie?" I suggest to Kira and she nods. "If you're hungry we ordered some dinner," I tell Clare.
"Yes starved, I'll get dinner and join you guys on the deck," Clare says and I smile.
I take Kira out to the deck and tell Tris and Anthony, who prefers to be called Tony, that Clare is back. I put Kira in the hammock in the tree house, the hammock is one that sort of envelopes you and it's very hard for the kids to roll out of. I had the treehouse built when Zak was born but the hammock and TV above the hammock were put in after Bethany was born. She was next to impossible to get to sleep, after trying a lot of things we found that rocking her in a hammock while some music or noise was going would get her to sleep. One of us would have to sometimes be rocking her in the hammock for more than an hour so I had the TV put in and hooked to a DVD player so Clare and I could at least watch something, it usually kept us from going to sleep in the hammock too. Now Kira uses it a lot when she's out here and the kids still use it. When Kira's settled in and watching A Goofy Movie, which is her favorite, Clare comes out to the deck with a plate of dinner and a glass of wine. She sits down and greets Tris and Tony I kiss my wife again and stoke the fire in in the enclosed fire pit before sitting down again.
"Someone we know is working on the case with me, well someone Tris knows and was at DeGrassi during my senior year," Clare says before taking her first bite of food.
"Oh yeah who's that?" Tris asks.
"Miles," she replies.
"Miles is working on the case? Did he become a cop or something?" Tris questions.
"No he's a victim advocate actually. I'll be working with him on victimology and going with to interview the families. He told me to say hi to you," Clare says.
"I can't really picture him as a victim advocate, not that I know what a victim advocate is. Tell him I said hi," Tris replies with a bit of a shrug.
"A victim advocate is exactly what it sounds like. They support victims of a crime," Clare tells them.
"I don't remember Miles," I remark.
"Because you were already away at college when he came to DeGrassi. He dated Maya for a bit and me for a bit, but he was only dating me to piss his dad off," Tris responds.
"I think we should probably be getting home, Kira looks like she's just about asleep," Anthony points out nodding to the swaying hammock.
"Good because now that my wife is home I'd like some time with her, not that I don't love you three," I comment.
"Don't worry we get it we know how hectic your schedules are and this is your one time of year without the kids," Anthony smiles.
They say goodbye and Clare cleans up her dishes, we do a little clean up in the kitchen so food isn't sitting out. Then I pick up my wife and we go upstairs. I place her on the bed and attach my lips to hers. Deepening the kiss I begin to disrobe her, starting with unbuttoning her blouse. Over the years I've gotten incredibly skilled at getting Clare's clothes off with one hand. It doesn't matter what she's wearing I can get it off with one hand. I keep my lips locked with my wife's and get her undressed, with her naked I stand and get undressed myself.
She lounges on the bed and looks at me, biting her lip with anticipation. I grin and run my hand gently up her leg and along her soft skin. Clare rolls to her back opening her legs and I get between them kissing along her body and taking in her flowery scent. I take her lips with mine as I penetrate into her, thrusting in slowly and deeply. Clare moans and arches her back gripping onto my shoulders. Our lips break apart and I kiss her supple breasts, sucking her nipples tenderly and she moans a little louder. Her nails dig into my back scratching lightly, I kiss her neck and her head lulls back, her eyes closing and fluttering as her moans get louder and her breathing deeper and harder. Clare and I both reach rapturous orgasms at the same moment and our bodies continue to tremble until our orgasms have passed. I pull out and lie next to her kissing her lips softly.
"I love you Gorgeous wife," I grin kissing her jawline as I pull her into my arms
"I love you Husband," she smiles kissing my chest.
(CLARE)
"Why are you looking at the case? We're supposed to be having breakfast together," Owen grouses coming downstairs Friday morning.
"I woke up early and came to get some work done. This guy is taking women and one of them turned up murdered. I could be one of these women Owen I fit in the age range and so far that is the only thing that connects them," I point out and Owen gets that look on his face. That look of the angry-protective mama bear that he gets when he thinks someone might hurt someone he loves.
"Why the hell did they call you in to consult on the case if you could be one of the targets?"
"Owen we have no idea how he targets these women and they called me because I was recommended. The chances that he will take me are extremely slim and anyway I'm trained in self-defense and I carry a taser and pepper spray, don't worry," I assure my husband.
"Of course I'm worried I always worry about you and the kids," Owen replies and then my phone rings. "I guess you have to go in?" He sighs.
"We'll have dessert together," I tell him picking up my phone. "Clare Milligan," I say into the phone.
"It's Agent McHale the background info is in on all the victims and Mr. Hollingsworth is going to interview a couple families today if you could go with him."
"I'm on my way," I reply and hang up. "I have to get dressed," I tell Owen and he just nods. I get dressed and ready quickly before returning downstairs.
"I'll be home this evening I love you," I call to Owen as I rush for the front door.
"Hey," Owen says catching my arm and then capturing my lips for a tenderly passionate kiss, "be careful. I love you."
"I will, I love you."
Owen releases me and I get in my car driving to the station. I find Miles already here and a ton of boxes on our table labeled with the names of the victims.
"Oh good you're here I know there's a lot of background info to go through but I was about to leave to interview Karyn Howard's family. She was the victim from New Jersey," Miles says.
"Great let's go," I nod.
"So any plans for a new book?" Miles asks as he begins driving us to Jersey.
"Not at the moment but I usually do most of my writing while Owen is on the road. A lot of nights home alone I have to do something. Well after the kids have gone to be bed or when the older ones are at school."
"Yeah I guess immersing yourself in your character's lives gets you through those quiet nights."
"Yeah something like that," I nod.
"Do you still see anyone from DeGrassi? Besides Tris I mean."
"Yeah we're still really close with Drew and Bianca and their three boys who are pretty close in age to our kids. And I'm still best friends with Adam who married Grace, they have two girls."
"Yeah I heard a rumor they got married, they dated a long time they were cute together."
"That's it really, I'm still friends with Jenna, Alli, Connor and Dallas on Facerange but Dallas moved to Japan and after he broke his hip during a game he fell off the map. Owen hasn't heard from him and neither have any of the Torres family."
"What about Maya?"
"I'm not sure, Adam kept in touch with her a little and last I heard she was with Zig."
"Yeah I heard that too," Miles says. "So was Owen really upset that a case was taking you from your alone time?"
"He wasn't thrilled about it but he knows it's work I love and he can't throw stones seeing as his pro career and now his coaching career keep him on the road a lot. Don't take this the wrong way but what little I knew of you in high school Victim Advocate did not seem like your type of work," I comment.
"Honestly I didn't even know what a Victim Advocate was. I guess though it started in high school. As much as I wanted my dad's approval he was abusive and it took me a while to see it but when I did I protected my siblings. It wasn't until I was in college I knew what a Victim Advocate was. My younger brother was attacked walking home from a party, he was mugged and stabbed. He survived but barely and he can't use his left arm to this day. For the longest time he wouldn't leave the house. He was afraid the guys would find him and attack him again. I came home after he was attacked and saw what a difference the Victim Advocate made in his recovery, even going to court with him. I wanted to make a difference like that so when I came back to school I looked into becoming a Victim Advocate."
"That's great, very admirable. Not that your brother was attacked of course but that you found your calling," I comment and Miles grins.
Miles and I talk most of the way to Jersey, mainly small talk about family or friends, jobs and stuff; we talk a little about the case too. Miles parks in front of a green house with black trim and we get out of the car. He knocks on the door and a man answers, he's in his late twenties but he looks haggard and aged. He must be Karyn's husband; he's tall and slender but muscular with dark brown hair and eyes. His eyes are deep set and sad you can see the pain he's in.
"Mr. Howard I'm Miles Hollingsworth we spoke on the phone. This is Clare Milligan she's a criminal psychologist. Can we come in and speak to you about your wife?"
"Yes of course," he nods and steps aside to let us in. "Please sit down, can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," Miles says and I shake my head.
"Is there any news on my wife?"
"Not yet I'm afraid but the FBI has a dedicated task force on these abductions now. Can you tell us about Karyn?"
"Uh what do you want know?"
"Anything you can tell us about her, things she liked, her routine, places she would go, anything at all," I prompt.
"Karyn is wonderful; she's the kindest and most generous person I've known. She works at a school for handicapped kids. She wakes up at seven and does yoga then has breakfast and leaves for work. She's home by six most nights and we cook together," he tells us and begins to tear up.
"Mr. Howard do you mind if I look around your house?" I request while he composes himself.
"What for?"
"The more we understand about Karyn and the other victims the more we will understand about the unsub and that's how we catch him," I inform the worried husband.
"Go ahead," he nods.
I give him a smile conveying both appreciation and sympathy and get up. I start upstairs in the couple's bedroom because that's where most people have their secrets. I take note of everything, the design style in the house or rather lack thereof. The couple seems to have eclectic taste; alongside pictures on the wall are Mexican folk-art terracotta suns next to family photos, framed paintings by local artists and a tapestry in the hallway on the stairs. Their bedding seems to be an old family quilt and there are stuffed animals in their room, obviously beloved ones from one of their childhoods. I don't go rifling through anything I just look at the obvious, when Karyn first went missing the police computer forensics team checked her computer and online history for anything suspicious. After looking around the room, her clothes, her washroom and their house a little I have a pretty good idea of who Karyn is and her habits.
"Thank you for speaking with us Mr. Howard if we hear anything we'll be in contact," Miles tells him.
"Please find my wife," the distressed husband begs.
Miles takes Mr. Howard's hands in his and looks him in the eye, "We are doing everything we can to find your wife."
Mr. Howard nods and we leave his house getting back in Miles' car and he begins driving back to the station. I tell him what I found in the house and he tells me about his interview with Mr. Howard. Nothing really stands out to either of us, nothing that connects Karyn to the other victims or would make her a high risk victim, no one was following her, threatening her or was obsessed with her. We arrive back at the station and I see all the boxes of background info for all of the victims.
"I think I'll take all of this to my house so I can go over it somewhere quiet, unless you want to take some boxes?" I ask Miles.
"No you can take it I need to call the other families and arrange for interviews. Some will need to be done over the phone but we can probably fly to Ottawa and drive to London. I'll talk to Agent McHale about it," Miles replies.
"Yeah I'll need to get clearance to take these boxes home."
We find Agent McHale and talk to him. He tells Miles to arrange for a flight and a rental car to do the Ontario interviews. He also gives me Clearance to take the boxes home but I need to sign for them.
"I know it's your time with Owen I'll make sure we're only gone a couple of days for these interviews. Is there a time that's better for you?" Miles asks after I sign for the boxes.
"I'm not sure I'll talk to Owen about it tonight but not this weekend it's Adam's birthday party," I reply looking at all the boxes and mentally trying to figure out how I'm going to get all this stuff into my car.
"Need help getting all the boxes to your car?"
"Yeah but I don't think they're all going to fit I should have brought the van today I wasn't thinking there would be this many," I comment.
"I could follow you to your house and bring a load of boxes in my car if you want?" Miles offers.
"Thanks that would be great. You can meet Owen and stay for dinner," I reply with a grateful smile.
Miles grins and we get a couple carts to get all of the boxes down to our cars. We load them up and then Miles follows me to my house. When I pull into the horseshoe driveway of our house I see that the van is here but Owen's SUV is gone. I get my phone out to see that Owen sent me a text saying he was going out with the guys. I had my phone on silent and never put it on vibrate when we were interviewing Karyn's husband so I missed the text. I send one back to let him know Miles helped me bring home the boxes and is staying for dinner before I get out of the car.
"Nice place," Miles grins.
"Thanks apparently Owen went out with the guys but I texted him that you were here. Well come on in, I just need to turn off the alarm and unlock the door," I tell him and do both with my phone.
We start bringing in boxes and taking them to my home office. After piling the boxes in we see what there is to eat and I start cooking, with some help from Miles. Owen gets home just before we're done.
"Hey Miles, I do remember you now I saw you a couple of times. Good to meet you," Owen says holding his hand out to Miles.
"Yeah good to see you Owen, Tris and I were pretty good friends in high school," Miles replies shaking Owen's hand.
I ask Owen to set the table and we sit down to eat. Miles asks Owen a lot of questions about his pro career over dinner and he leaves when we're done eating.
"How was your time out with the guys?" I ask after Miles has left and Owen and I are cleaning up.
"It was good but not as fun as time at home with my wife," he grins kissing my neck.
Owen takes me by the waist and lifts me onto the counter, capturing my lips. His hands gliding along my legs and up my skirt before pulling my panties down, he slides them down my legs and lets them fall to the floor. His pants come down with his boxers and we make love in our kitchen, fast but passionate and full of tender love for the other. When we finish we scrub the counters and finish cleaning the kitchen, relaxing together in our hot tub before going to bed.
I wake up earlier than usual and can't get back to sleep so I put on my robe and get some coffee before going into my office to work. I start looking at all the files on the abduction victims beginning with one recently found murdered. It's all things either officers or Miles wrote down during interviews with the families or packets filled out by the families about the routines and habits of the victims. There's also things like job records and performance, even school records. A lot of this was gathered by an FBI agent who specializes in digging into background.
I read through a few files and nothing stands out or seems to link the victims other than a general age range. All different races, socioeconomic statuses, they all have different hobbies and habits. However the more files I read I do begin to see something that connects at least some of the victims, music. They all played music as kids, many of the victim's family's use the term "musically gifted". Despite this only a few of the victims went into careers in music but not in a symphony or something you would expect from someone musically gifted. The few that did go into musical careers are doing children's music or are the house band at a bar or something equally mediocre, not living up to their potential as musicians. It doesn't talk about music in all the files but so far it's the only thing that connects the victims at all. It also sounds very familiar but I can't figure out why.
"You're working again," Owen whines.
"I was awake before you and couldn't get back to sleep," I reply putting down the file I was reading.
"I think we should get naked and make breakfast," Owen says pulling me up and into his arms.
I smile looping my arms around my husband's neck and crushing my lips to his.
The update on Thursday, March 10th will probably begin with Adam's birthday party.