A punch in the gut. He deserved it. Harlee now had the upper hand. Speaking of hands-he remembered her putting something in his yesterday. The envelope. He glanced at the table. The paper was gone. Damn it! How did he miss that? Time to change the locks, he thought, but almost immediately dismissed the idea. This wasn't yet over, why screw up the fun?
He needed a week to calm himself down and finally was relaxed enough to come to her door. No one answered. The windows were dark and her car was gone. Strange time for vacation. It didn't make any sense. Why would she run? Now? When she was winning?
Worry settled low in his gut. He tried to find her. The newsstand, the coffee shop, subway- she wasn't there. No sign of Christina as well. The last place he checked was the docks. The marina was warm and inviting, fresh breeze ruffling his hair. He remembered meeting her here back then, the rays of the sun overdrying the ground. It was the beginning. The air was still full of oxygen and things between them were taut but not yet torn. And look at the mess now...He actually threatened her back at the diner. What the hell was wrong with him? Didn't he swore to protect her? Now it looked like a blatant lie.
The hearing was set for tomorrow. Baker knew some of the story but not everything. With him, no one ever did. He had something on her as well and would use it if needed.
His thoughts went back to Harlee. He remembered the stamp on the envelope. St Mary's...
"Hi, sunshine!", he put a cup of coffee on the counter and a huge bundle of tulips. She turned couldn't contain her smile. She would've recognized that voice anywhere. She was always happy to see him, to be caressed by his beautiful eyes. He was kindness itself with her-some threads were just too valuable to be broken.
"What do you need today, Robert?" She quietly asked.
"I need you to look this up, the visits for the last 3 months". He reached over her desk, picked up a business card and a pen and wrote something. Then his long fingers toyed with the parchment and gold cuff link clacked on the granite. She slid her hand over cold stone and plucked out the card. What could she say? She loved his style, so damn smooth and distracting.
She printed the page, it was hot when she gave it to Stahl. "Don't get lost, darling", she mouthed. He put a finger to his lips and gently bit it. "Oh, I wish you would let me, Robert", she inwardly smiled.