Hello dear readers - 12.8K words. The mysteries continue….
Anna couldn't recall how she got home that night. She was sober and sane, but the entire ride home was spent building castles in the sky. She tried to avoid it as it wasn't the sensible thing to do. They had just gotten together and with so much still unknown in his future, the only certainty was the actual uncertainty of it all. She would be lying if she didn't admit her mind had wandered and looked ahead into her future. She envisioned herself as the future Mrs. Bates, wearing a white dress and dancing the first waltz at their wedding. In her vision, he was dapper and debonair and only had eyes for her. She wasn't prone to the silly daydreaming of a teenage girl; the harsh realities of her young life made her mature quicker than the rest of the girls her age. She was raised an independent woman by both her parents and Godparents and had the economic means to not depend on anybody else to get ahead. She wasn't delusional either thinking that one instance of intimacy between them entitled her to more of him. It wasn't even the amazing sex that had her dizzy with excitement. It was the way he gazed into her eyes when they were saying good-bye. No man had ever looked at her with such intensity. There was tenderness and love, coupled with longing and deep desire. It sent chills down her body. He couldn't say anything and since they were already on the compound, they couldn't even touch. His eyes, though, windows into his soul, said much more than words ever could. He loved her, as much as she already loved him. She was convinced that he was the one she was supposed to be with.
These sentiments increased exponentially when she received another tweet notification, having only left the Bates Airlift compound a few minutes before.
I MAY NOT BE RELIGIOUS, BUT I AM CERTAIN THERE ARE ANGELS WALKING THIS EARTH. #CHANGINGFORTUNE #ONELUCKYBLOKE
How could she not let her mind wander? That was the perfect thing to say to make up for so many days of misery. Now, without a definite plan to see him again, her heart had to contend with filling the void with the nonsensical images of what their future could be. The whole forty minutes it took to get home was the entire time she allowed herself to frolic in her dream. It came to an end in her head when she parked her car. Reality set in that she still had a job to do for him and many files to go through and in an instant, her fantasy evaporated.
She wondered, still, how she would ever get the concentration she needed to continue to work that night. When she unlocked the front door, she realized it would be harder than she thought.
"Oh, great. I am so happy you're home. Be a dear and help me choose an outfit for my next date with Matthew," Mary bellowed as she propped up two hangers that dangled two completely different styled outfits.
Mary. She didn't count on her friend being home. It was unlikely that she would make it into her bedroom without at least a chat and Mary was really good at reading her. She hadn't thought about whether she should reveal what had just happened or not. Her instinct was to keep it a secret as long as was possible.
"What are you doing home so early? I thought you'd still be at the pub." Anna closed the door behind her and moved a couple of steps forward, placing her handbag and jacket down on the closest chair.
"Edith and Sybil are here on break for several weeks. Edith will be taking some shifts at the pub while Sybil starts her work experience at the hospital." She pulled up the two outfits again, willing Anna to focus on her dilemma. "It's a picnic. Do I go for casual chic or romantic innocent?
Anna was sure she couldn't tell what moniker was assigned to what outfit. She wouldn't have worn either of the choices to a picnic. Jeans, a fetching top and cute matching flats would be the ideal for such an event if it was outdoors. She reached forward, conjuring the right words to speak as she took one of the outfits from her friend. Mary was rather lost when it came to decisions on what to wear. She had good taste and a refined style and dressing down was not natural to her. Even at the pub she looked like she didn't belong.
Mary's face turned inquisitive. "Wait, Anna. Turn around." Anna did as she was told. "What are those hideous stains on the back of your shirt? …..and on your skirt?"
"What stains?' Anna craned her neck to determine if she could see anything and when she couldn't, she untucked the shirt to shift the backside towards her. It was full of black markings.
By then, Mary had taken her outfits from both their hands and set them down. This warranted a closer look. "They are like oil. What were you doing at that hangar that has got you so dirty?"
The realization slowly hit Anna. With the incessant banging and rubbing against the helicopter's fuselage, she must have wiped off oil residue. She was too distracted at the time to notice it. She would have to lie. She could invent something work related – helping the mechanics on another overhaul was a plausible explanation.
"Oh, that? It must be..."
"Wait. You have that face." Mary cut off Anna's thoughts. She remembered this from other times.
"What face?" Anna was trying hard to change whatever Mary thought she saw. She even modified her tone of voice to adopt a more stern posture.
Mary's hands couldn't avoid flailing. The excitement was building within her. "The mischievous face. Anytime you do something remotely spontaneous and unexpected that you want to cover up….. you do that face."
"I do not." Mary was on to something, but she would deny it.
"You do, Anna. The last time I saw that face you were trying to cover up that it was you who found the evidence of the headmaster Kelly's affair with his student intern."
The moment Mary said it, realization set in and her eyes slowly opened wider and her mouth opened up in shock. This was why they were best friends. Mary was too smart in that respect. Anna knew that Mary had just guessed what she had been up to and it would be no sense to continue denying it.
"Anna May Smith….You didn't just do what I think you did, or did you?" The stains were only on her backside which means she was either lying down or against something.
"What do you think I did?" Anna's nonchalant teasing side came to the surface. If she would have to confess, she might as well have fun. She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at the same time one of her hands came to rest on her hip.
"Don't play coy with me, missy. It's written all over your face…. and clothing." She leaned forward and sniffed her neck. "Men's cologne. I bet that if I were to sniff John Bates, that's what he would smell like."
"Well, you'd be right, of course." Anna relented to the banter and softened her facial features, hinting to Mary that she could continue with the playful persecution.
"Judging by those stains, you must have been at it on or around a helicopter." It was a statement, but judging by Mary's upturned lip and quizzical stare, it was meant to be a question.
"Again, you'd be right." Anna smiled and contained the giggles that were threatening to erupt. It made her want to laugh seeing Mary desperate for the gossip and details of her tryst.
"You are really going to make me suffer, aren't you? Let's just see if I don't do the same and limit the information that is made available to you when I decide to take it to that level with Matthew."
"Oh, all right." Anna proceeded to share the more innocent facts about her recent encounter and as she did, she could tell Mary was equal parts excited and worried.
"I wasn't sure you would go through with it."
"It just happened, we didn't plan it, but it was amazing. He is amazing and I don't regret it one bit. He announced his intent to divorce in the office, so, it's not like I am breaking his marriage."
"I can clearly see that this make you happy. Just, please be careful. Don't get in over your head. I don't doubt he cares for you, but he'll be confused for a while. I would hate to see you hurt."
- 0 -
He was in his bed at the Palace Hotel, but he could not sleep, nor did he think he would be able to. John Bates was giddy. He couldn't recall ever being this happy. His life, or at least the last two decades, had been lived as a mere existence. Days just happened to him, and he wished for them to finish no sooner than they started. What little joys he experienced he drew from his helicopters and his company. He didn't feel contentment or much of anything else. Hypersensitivity had set in, all of a sudden, as a type of rebirth where the numbness in his life had faded away, revealing that he was still capable of feeling and of loving. He tingled every time he thought about her. His heart fluttered when he remembered her lips on his. It had been hours and he couldn't have a thought without it generating another physical sensation. He had never experienced such a situation and he couldn't control it. Not that he tried. He wanted to retain as much of her as he could.
The elation almost made him forget the pain in his leg. Almost. He had learned to live with his discomfort and few people, if any at all, knew of the accident that had required a knee and hip replacement. He could get on well, not requiring any walking aids, as his life was mostly sedentary. Sitting at his desk and the occasional helicopter trip required low levels of exertion and so nobody could tell the difference at all. To the untrained eye, he was normal and luckily, even though he didn't understand why, Vera had not been vocal publicly about his disability. Perhaps, even though her own brother, Callum, succumbed to his injuries from the same disaster, she must have imagined that had he survived, he would have fared the same or worse than he did.
He brushed those thoughts from his mind. He didn't want to think of Vera or the unfortunate event that had ruined a part of him and had been the precursor to his misery. He would rather think of the fortunate event from this night and how it had affected him now. The effort to sustain Anna's weight while they made love, even as slight as she was, had taken its toll. His leg was throbbing and he hadn't felt such pain since the Make a Wish event. Before coming to bed, he rubbed down with an analgesic heat agent. It always made his joints and strained muscles feel a little better, although the unpleasant smell made him feel like an old man. He laughed. He'd been anything but an old man tonight. He was rather pleased with his performance, as rusty as he was. He would gladly live through the pain twenty more times if it meant Anna and him could come together like that again.
Getting back into the helicopter to leave had proven a challenge for them. They sat underneath Marilyn's tail end, kissing and holding each other for at least another quarter hour before they finally made their departure. Neither wanted to let go of the other, but reason and responsibility won out. Still holding hands, he escorted her to her seat and this time, she sat up front with him. He loved having her by his side and being able to witness her face as it lit up as she enjoyed such an unobstructed and grand view. They flew over Leeds, then, eventually York and it was her first time at night, watching the cityscape below illuminated by the thousands of lights. Her eyes danced with emotion, the same as a child's expression during Christmas. He committed the sight to memory and prayed that she would want to come back up with him.
They were discreet when they landed. Even though it was already late and everybody had left, they couldn't let down their guard. Knowing that the threat of Vera was never too far away, they hardly touched and went their separate ways, sharing a knowing glance. If he could call her, or text her, he would have sent a message or dialed her quickly to say how much he already missed her. Communication between them still being off limits, he reverted to the only form allowed to him – tweeting – and he send the most ingenious message he could. She was an angel to him, send down from above to save him from his inconsequential existence. He would tell her every chance he got, perhaps even sooner than she thought. This restless evening evoked an idea about a trip he might want to make with her, much sooner than expected.
The other thought that kept him awake was Richard Carlisle. He wouldn't call Richard a friend, they weren't exactly close, but they had a good working relationship. He'd jumped at the chance to hire him about five years ago, when Richard was looking for a new opportunity. It was about the same time that he was trying to expand the operation from his small two helicopters and three pilot operation to something larger. Richard had come with references and a good sales background, and although a bit pompous for his taste, ha had proven effective. Today, they had six helicopters and seven pilots. He couldn't have done that on his own. He definitely owed the man a percentage of the partnership that he had been requesting. The fact that he was a predator didn't change that. He had landed the CONOCO EXPLORATIONS account as well and that would likely take them to seven helicopters and nine pilots. This was difficult. How could Richard be replaced without affecting his business? He believed Anna and she said she had evidence against him, but if Anna did not want to move forward with her accusation now, he was in a tight spot. He could not put Richard off much longer. No sooner had they come back from the London Oil and Gas summit, Richard had asked to see him on the matter. He had deflected the matter again, but with Vera gone, there was less of an obstacle to carry forward with Richard's proposal. If Anna didn't accuse him, Richard stood to take offense from John's stall tactics. He had threatened to leave the company in the past. Leaving as a coward with his reputation in tatters was one thing, but leaving as an act of defiance, gave him the upper hand. He could take his business contacts elsewhere, maybe even steer the CONOCO EXPLORATIONS away from them. He really did not know what to do.
His heart was torn. His instinct was to assault the man and cause him pain and he knew exactly what he needed to do to accomplish that. His years in the military service had taught him many a practical skill and that was one of them. He had dared touch Anna against her will, during a company event. He shouldn't get away with that and now, he had to talk to him as if nothing had happened. He had to pretend that Richard hadn't tried to force himself on the woman his heart had started to love.
As he tossed and turned in the lumpy bed, he was unaware of how late or early it was. Time didn't matter anymore and it was futile to think he would get any sleep at all. There were just too many emotions running wild within him. The last time he glanced at the bedside table, it was close to three in the morning. He would have to get up soon. That wasn't such a bad idea, if he thought about it. Tomorrow, or later, rather, he would get to see her again. He could hardly wait.
- 0 -
Anna drove into the lot much earlier than usual. After falling asleep from exhaustion, but with excitement still coursing in her veins, she awoke after only a handful of hours of sleep. She was awake by four, and after a fitful half hour of turning and another quarter hour of watching the news, she decided that she would rather be more useful and readied herself to go to the office. She might as well read through some of her notes regarding the processes that Phyllis was teaching her, to make sure she was fully grasping how the customer billing process worked. She didn't know why, but she really wanted Phyllis' stamp of approval. That, and possibly seeing him alone, even for a few minutes before the others arrived, would be her motivation. It was half past six when she arrived.
She shivered when she saw his car in the lot. He couldn't possibly be here. The rest of the car park was empty, which meant, most likely, that they would be together, alone. She fumbled with her belongings, nervous. He was notorious to her, after the last two bouts of physical closeness, of being aloof the next day. If he appeared that way now, she wasn't sure she could handle it. Her high heels normally clacked on the pavement, but, this time, she walked quietly, on her tiptoes, not wanting to scare him, or prompt any of that behavior she dreaded. Quietly, she punched the code to get her through the waiting area and made it across without being detected. If he was here, he had not heard her quiet entrance. The light in his office was on, but he was not there. She walked the few steps to her desk and left her belongings. She went in search of him and as she neared the crew room, she heard distant sounds in their kitchen. As if on cue, he walked out of said room. With a steaming cup of tea in his hands, he looked up to see her. He couldn't hide his surprise. He obviously did not expect her.
"Anna," was all he could say. He stood his ground, but his shifting feet made him look nervous.
Was he happy to see her? She couldn't tell. "I couldn't sleep at all. I thought I'd be more useful here," she offered as an explanation, still holding back her emotions. Her natural instinct was to run towards him and it was taking great effort to contain herself.
He set down the beverage on a nearby cabinet, as he answered, "I couldn't either. I wasn't able to get you out of my head, even for a minute." He took a few cautious steps forward, the anxiety of discovering if she felt the same way keeping him from walking all the way up to her.
"You were in my head too," she answered weakly, emotionally shaken by his confession. She walked the few steps needed to reach him. His words meant that he still wanted her near and that he hadn't changed his point of view overnight.
They were standing, facing each other, and it only took a few seconds for them both to move towards each other. With only a few inches between them, his arm had come around to her waist and pulled her close to him. Her arms, she place on his chest. She felt calm and elated to be so close to him and she ached for more. She worried, slightly. Any affection between them in the office was dangerous, even if they were alone.
"We're in the office Mr. Bates. I think standing so close to you might be improper." Her voice, cheeky and playful, accompanied a smile on her face.
"It is improper, but there is nobody here. We are alone for at least the next hour." He brought his hand up to cup her cheek. His thumb caressed the skin on her face and she felt weaker in his arms. She couldn't believe how she could become a pile of mush when so close to him. Again, she was thankful for his arm that kept her upright.
"I want to desperately kiss you. Do I have your permission?"
She answered him wordlessly, bringing her lips to meet his. It was a thoughtful kiss – slow and sweet. Mindful of their surroundings, it was over sooner than either wanted. Anna put her head on his shoulder and put her arms around him. He brought his hands from her face to her middle, following suit and hugging her. This was the first time they had hugged and it felt perfect, having her in his arms.
"I was afraid, you'd changed your mind overnight." Anna wanted to be sincere; she was through with leaving things unsaid.
"Never." After a minute or so, as they held each other in the same position, John thought of a place for them to be. "I have an idea." He took her hand and led her away to the quiet and darkness of the crew lounge. "I thought we could sit here, at least for a little while, if you want."
"Sounds lovely." She reached up to kiss his cheek and he turned on purpose, catching her kiss with his lips. This time, it wasn't brief. It was much more sensual than their last, only a few minutes ago. With the lighting in the crew lounge so dim, it felt a lot more romantic. She was in heaven.
"We can sit next to each other in the two recliners against the wall, or we can squeeze in together in this one which is a little larger," he said as he pulled away.
"I think I'd like to squeeze in with you." She wasn't going to sit in another recliner, no matter how close it was. In the recesses of her mind, she remembered her first tour of the facilities, when Gwen was showing her around and introducing her to everybody. Gwen had cheekily announced that sooner or later, she would make use of the recliners, because everybody did. How true her words were. Except, at that time, she would never imagine that it would be with the owner and she was pretty sure that Gwen meant sleeping or resting, not snogging.
He sat down first and pulled her down to him. There wasn't really room to squeeze in, and she ended up sitting on his lap. It was strange to be in this position, so close to each other. She barely knew him, even if she had already shared the most intimate act between them. She suddenly felt shy. There was so much she still didn't know.
"I'm going to need you shift to this side, if you can." It was an odd request. She gazed at him confused. Perhaps he wanted her off and was being too kind?
At her confusion, he clarified. "I have an old hip and knee injury on this side. If you put all your weight on the other side, we'll be just fine."
"There's so much I don't know about you," she expressed as she moved, relieved that he still wanted her there. "What type of injury is it?"
The look he gave her made her feel more comfortable, losing the bit of awkwardness she was experiencing. She cuddled against him with confidence, and it was a better position. With her head slightly above his, she could even see that the swelling underneath his eye had lessened. The purple hue she noticed last Tuesday had faded to mustard yellow. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and her shyness was lost completely. She wrapped her arms around his neck, passing her lips lightly over his cheek.
He chuckled and she wondered what was funny about her question, or about what she was doing.
"You're right. There is much you don't know about me, but, I imagine that you know much than I would tell anybody who I'd just met."
She had to agree there. Any information on him that was public record, plus Joe's hacking abilities into some accounts, meant that she had a pretty good idea of what he did and who he was.
"Yes, it is my job to know. I've seen your dossier – born in Dublin, aged 44, ex-soldier, military campaigns in the Gulf War and a posting with NATO during the Bosnian War. I won't lie. I've seen your assets and your bank statements too."
"Exactly. But you don't know the whole story. You only know a part of it and you will be tempted to make your own assumptions, like you did with the Edna Braithwaite issue."
"But John," she tried to interject, but he cut her off. She was so sorry about it.
"No, please. Let me continue." Anna nodded for him to go on and he did. "What I am trying to say is – You have numbers and facts, but they don't make up the truth about me. You don't have my story." He smiled, quite infectiously, and it caused Anna to smile, although she didn't know why. She still didn't understand what he was trying to say. Maybe this was bad, what he was trying to relay. She shouldn't smile but, she couldn't help it. He was just so adorable.
"Anna, I would rather you have my story, from me. I lied yesterday when I said I didn't have any secrets. I do, unfortunately, have many, and some things may not even be in that dossier of yours, including the reason for my injuries that you asked about. As a private detective, I am sure you'll keep looking, and if you do, you may find other things. If we are to give this, whatever we have, a go, then, you need to hear them all and make your decisions."
Anna was touched. He wanted to give her full disclosure. That was both exciting and scary. He still had many secrets.
"I'll listen to anything you want to tell me John. I don't think right now is a good time, though." She looked at the clock. They had half about half an hour.
"I agree…. I don't think I could fit it all in now. Not when I want to do more of this." He kissed her again and she gave into it with her full heart. She was mad with desire for him. His kisses were both a gift and torture at the same time. He pulled back, leaving her numb. What I suggest, and I hope that you don't find it too forward." He laughed at his comment. After yesterday, he didn't know what was forward anymore. They'd already been intimate with each other. "Given our situation, we can't meet anywhere in the vicinity. I was hoping that you were willing to spend this weekend with me, away from here."
He thought about it last night, during one of his sleepless hours. Why was he kidding himself? He had tried to put a practical distance between them, stating it during their post sex discussion, but he knew he could never really follow through. He needed her close.
A weekend with him? Anna thought she might be dreaming. It made sense. They couldn't have a normal relationship. Not yet. She wanted desperately to see him as often as she could and last night, she thought that it would be impossible. Today was Friday, though. He meant tomorrow. She would have to do a lot of things tonight if she were to agree, but she would gladly do them. This is what she had been hoping for. She wouldn't turn him down now.
While she was organizing her thoughts, John took it to be hesitation. He nudged her shoulder, believing she might need persuading. "Come Fly with Me."
"A weekend, flying with you? I would love it." She gave him a peck on the cheek, before asking a practical question. "Where are we going?"
"That, my dear, is a surprise and part of what you will learn about me." Anna furrowed her brow. To assuage her doubts, he added. "You'll have to trust I'll keep you safe."
"I trust you, silly beggar. I was just wondering… How am I supposed to know what to bring?"
- 0 -
Phyllis Baxter learned to like Anna Smith. The intern asked the right questions and paid attention during the explanations that were provided. When Tom had sent a requisition for several spare parts, Anna was proactive, accessing the website of their preferred providers and placing the order herself. Before finalizing the transaction, though, she had asked Phyllis to look it over and she had done well. It pleased her to see that the young woman had the logical abilities and the common sense that Sarah lacked. Sarah was keen on belittling the intern's abilities, but Phyllis was sure that Anna was probably smarter than all of them, save herself. She often had her doubts, when she observed the girl, and had a hunch that her presence here was not what it seemed. She went so far as to take her concern to Mr. Bates, soon after she suspected Anna was snooping. He reassured her, when she took the liberty to suggest Anna might be a spy for Helicopters UK, that she was nothing of the sort and that he had thoroughly verified her background before bringing her to Bates Airlift. Just to be sure, Phyllis did some checking herself, and as Mr. Bates had explained, her listing for the Interns UK website as a graduate of University of Warwick was found. That helped appease her worry. She didn't intend to pry into Anna's life deliberately; she was just making sure that her presence was legitimate, yet, she also discovered the newspaper article from the York Press detailing the horrific car accident that left a then 14 year old Anna Smith an orphan. Her mother a teacher and her father, a property developer, were sideswiped by a lorry and killed instantly when their car crashed. The article went on to say that the young girl, not with her parents at the time, would be cared for by family. Phyllis had not imagined that Anna could come from such a tragic background. The article also included some inappropriate comments regarding her father's net worth at death, leading Phyllis to believe that Anna Smith most likely did not lead a pauper's life.
Anna intrigued Phyllis. If she came from money, what was she doing working at a company like theirs? She was always there early and stayed late - including today, a Friday. Phyllis was usually the one member of staff prone to arriving early and not leaving until the work was done. It was her habit to be there by 730am. Today, she came to find Anna and Mr. Bates had arrived even earlier than she did. It was surprising. It wasn't the first time either. She wondered about that.
- 0 -
John looked up when he heard the knock on the door.
"You called for me?" There was trepidation in Anthony's voice. Since he had confessed his love for Vera, he didn't know what to expect from John. They hadn't even had the opportunity to talk about his divorce either. After the public announcement, he preferred to give Mr. Bates space, and then the next two days, he had traveled to London for an Accounting Symposium that was meant to keep him up to date with the changes in the UK tax code. The issue of the divorce and the impact to the company remained undiscussed between them.
"Yes. We need to talk. Please shut the door." Anthony did as he was told, gently closing it. He walked the few steps forward until he was sitting. He didn't say anything, letting Mr. Bates take the lead.
"There are many things we need to discuss." He paused and looked out the window, keeping his eyes fixed on the grassy terrain. "The next few weeks will be rough. Can I count on your loyalty?" He brought back his eyes until Anthony was in his line of sight.
"Of course. You've always had my loyalty." Anthony confirmed it, but the look in John's eyes meant he didn't believe him. Why would he, really, after the shocking confession he had made.
"Vera was having an affair, Anthony. I hired a private detective firm to follow her and they produced the evidence."
Anthony's shocked demeanor was what John needed to ascertain that Anthony had no knowledge of it. His jaw dropped, leaving his mouth hanging open. There was a deception in his eyes, likely brought on by the sorrow of knowing that the woman he had harbored feelings for was not who he thought she was.
"An affair?" His weak voice confirmed that the knowledge was painful for him. He often dreamed that if the Bateses were divorced, he might have an opportunity with her, and even more of a fantasy, that she would want to seek him out.
"Yes. I was not being paranoiac when we last spoke. I knew something was going on, but I had no proof. Now that I do, you understand what made the dissolution of the partnership possible."
"Yes. I understand." He kept a copy of the incorporation papers as reference. He understood well what John Bates would be entitled to.
"I am not telling you this to hurt you, Anthony. I'm not sure if you believed Vera was capable of such, but, after living with her for 18 years, I can tell you she is. It is not my intention to poison your mind to gain your allegiance and I am not here to convince you of anything either. I have evidence and the courts will make their decisions. I plan on doing this as fairly as possible, as I don't want any future problems. My concern is that Vera is very clever and I can assure you that she will come after me in some way or another. She can do whatever she wants with me, but I don't want the company affected, or any team members unnecessarily dragged in to whatever conflict ensues. I want to know that if she contacts you for anything related to the office, that you will not concede anything to her, or enable any action that could harm Bates Airlift."
"Absolutely not. I have my dignity and I as much as she may affect me, I would not let her do anything untoward the company - Her or anybody else." Anthony's tone was very passionate by now.
"Thank you," pronounced John, with certain relief in his voice.
Anthony shifted in his chair. He still had to make clear that he couldn't avoid Vera altogether. "She's still your partner until the final dissolution decree is awarded. Until that time, you cannot hire, fire without cause, promote anyone, increase a salary or make any expenditures above one thousand pounds, unless both of you sign for authorization. I bring that up because legally, I am bound to talk to her if you should want any of those things."
John appeared annoyed. He couldn't wait for the day to arrive when everything was solved.
"I understand," he said with visible disgust.
"I'll take my leave." Anthony rose to make his departure, thinking the conversation was over.
"Wait. One last thing…." Anthony turned back and when John had his attention again, he continued. "I've been thinking of your situation. I asked my private investigators for help, at my expense. I want to be sure you are ok with that."
"What can they do?" Anthony looked skeptical.
"I'm not sure, but they caught Vera. If Edna has anything to hide, if she's not been on the up and up with you, they will catch her too."
"I'm not sure. It may make things worse if she finds out." For Anthony, incurring in Edna's wrath was the worst imaginable outcome. He'd seen what she did to John Bates and he did not have nearly as deep pockets as his boss did.
"She won't. They're very discreet and effective." He paused. "Wouldn't you want to know if something was not right?" John didn't want to insist, it was Anthony's life, but the man was too good-heartened and cash-constrained to even consider this as an option for himself. Anthony had served him well for years and he would be damned if he allowed that harpy to take advantage of such a noble man.
"Fine. Let's see what they can do."
- 0 -
John caught Richard peering into Accounting on his way back from the hangar. In an instant, his blood pressure increased and a rush of adrenaline invaded his body. It was the way he was standing, half hidden and lurking, that hinted at his intention. The nerve of that man…. He was spying on Anna, waiting and wondering when he could get her alone, no doubt, to harass her. John was ready to defend her if he dared touch her again. He breathed in to regain his composure. He needed to be smart about this. Anna wouldn't want that, a physical altercation. Not now. John breathed in again. He couldn't imagine that such actions took place in his company. He would be upset if it was anyone, but, it was a trifle more infuriating for it to happen to his Anna.
Richard continued in his aloof pose, unaware that he was being observed. At that precise moment, Richard shifted to stand behind a wall. John was curious at his actions. Then he understood. Anna came from the entry, by herself. Richard grabbed her by the wrist when she least expected it. Anna was startled by his forwardness and pulled her arm back, but Richard held it tight. He couldn't see Richard's expression, as he was facing in the opposite direction and all he could see was his back. Anna's face, though, was visible. There was a mix of anger and fear. Richard reached down to say something, none of which John could hear, and that was when he made his move.
"Richard, do you have a moment?" His tone was demanding, signaling that this was not an option. Every ounce of restraint he had in his body was employed to stop from hurtling himself against the man and striking him down. He didn't need anything to confirm her side of the story, the moment she mentioned it, he believed it, but confirming it visually made the story more real for him. Anna had done nothing to warrant such an action against her. He could be her witness, as he had seen it with his own eyes and there was no confusing the situation. Richard was clearly stalking Anna.
Both Anna and Richard were startled by John's voice and Richard immediately let go of her. Anna's face relaxed when she saw him standing there. With a polite, "Excuse me," she walked ahead and passed him, not before timidly smiling and wordlessly mouthing, "Thank you."
"Wait for me in my office, Richard. I will be there in a moment." His Sales Manager, confused by it all, or perhaps not believing that he had been caught, left without saying much. His expression was ambiguous. He was either trying to downplay the situation, or felt that he had done nothing wrong.
As soon as Richard was gone, John went in search of Anna. He found her, in the kitchen. She must have been on her way to prepare some tea, but he came upon her, with her hands holding on to the counter, for stability. It appeared she was trying to calm herself down.
"Anna, are you alright?" She turned and he could see the rim of her eyes, flooding with tears. Her hands went up immediately to her face, to wipe away the evidence.
"Yes. Just startled." He walked closer and lowered his voice.
"I really want to hold you right now." He turned towards the door to make sure they were still alone.
She answered in an equally low voice. "And I would want to be held, but, this is not the moment."
He gave her a half smile, one she had seen only a couple of times, and it made her feel better. It was a comfort in itself that he had followed her here.
"Anna, tell me. What did he say to you?"
"You mustn't sack him for this. Not now, not yet." She was begging him.
He didn't want to insist, making her more uncomfortable than she already was; yet, he needed to know so that he could manage the situation with Richard better. "Anna, I saw it with my own eyes. He was aggressive towards you." Don't be afraid.
"If we accuse him now, his solicitor will do a thorough check on my background. I will be found out. You will be found out. We've both worked hard for this John, don't ruin it." She continued whispering and looking towards the door, ensuring nobody could overhear their very revealing conversation.
"I won't sack him, but what did he say to you?" He hated to promise her that. He really would want to see that man leave, rather than keep her in harm's way. Worse, he might physically hurt him.
"He asked me why I was hiding from him." Anna revealed the truth partially. She omitted the part where Richard implied that she really wanted him and shouldn't play hard to get. If John knew that, he wouldn't be able to control himself. Even though she was only getting to know him, she understood that those words could enrage him. She didn't know if John Bates was a violent man, she didn't think he was, but she would rather not find out today. As always, she had her recorder and the conversation was most likely recorded too. That would be enough for her.
"I'll go deal with him now. Are you sure you are fine?" He reached out to touch her shoulder, the only physical contact he could risk.
"Yes, go on." Anna was pleased that he believed her. His hand also spread some warmth through her. It was a small touch, but it comforted her immensely.
"I really, really want to wrap you in my arms." His eyes reflected the intensity of his feelings.
"I know… And I do too…Tomorrow."
She smiled back and it was the courage he needed to continue with his task. He walked out of the kitchen. What could he say or do to Richard if Anna didn't want him to take action? It was complicated. She wasn't making it easy for him, but she was right. This was a delicate situation. Part of him did not care about the material concerns, let it all be damned, he thought. But it wasn't that easy. He had an obligation to the team to maintain stability in the company.
He reached his office and closed the door.
Richard sat within it, as he had requested. He didn't appear concerned or even unfazed. The chair leaned slightly back, his leg was crossed above the knee and he had his elbow on the armrest, with his hand holding up his head. His other hand held his smartphone. He was reading something.
"Ah, Richard, thank you for waiting." He closed the door behind him and took his seat.
"How can I help you?" Richard asked as if nothing had just happened.
John felt like laughing. The audacity was incredible. He wasn't event going to acknowledge he might be in trouble. Richard had a cynical streak, but this was unacceptable.
"You can start by explaining what it was that I saw back there." John's voice was firm and strong.
"Back there? With Anna?" He appeared confused.
"Yes, Richard. Back there, with Anna."
"Oh, the poor girl was coming out of accounting and she tripped. I happened to be passing by and managed to stop her from falling." He said it with such conviction, if John hadn't witnessed the entire scene himself, he might have believed him. "She was very grateful." Then, he went as far as making it her fault. "You know, you might want to tell her to stop wearing such high heeled shoes. The next time, there might not be anyone to catch her."
Anna mentioned that she always carried her voice activated recorder. He hoped, very enthusiastically so, that in this occasion, she had recorded this exchange too, because what he was hearing from Richard was bull. He would have to accept this sorry story as the official account of what happened until they were ready to denounce him.
"Is that so?" John looked him straight in the eyes. "Are you sure there isn't anything else?" He was trying vigorously to come across as a concerned employer, not as the jealous significant other.
"What else could it be?" Richard asked back, feigning offense.
"Are you sure it isn't that you are interested in Ms. Smith and she's rebuffed your advances?" Perhaps it was going a step too far, but, he really wanted to hear Richard's answer. How would he react to hearing the truth?
"Me, interested in her? Hardly. She's a little too pasty for my tastes and has hardly any sex appeal. I mean, have you seen her? She dresses like Angela Merkel. She's not my type of woman, although… I must be her type… You know, I've caught her looking at me before." He became pensive. "Mmmm. Now that I think about it, maybe she tripped on purpose, hoping I would catch her."
If he heard another word, John was sure that he could be arrested for murder. The way he was speaking about Anna made him want to retch and scream. How could somebody he admired, that had so much talent and passion as a professional, be such a rotten human being? He better put an end to that conversation, as he wasn't sure whether he could endure any more slandering. His limit as a prudent man was being greatly tested. If he didn't want to botch this for Anna, he needed to change the subject.
"Fine. We'll say Ms. Smith tripped, if that is what really happened."
Richard smiled gingerly. How smug of him, thought John. He thinks he's won.
"Since we're here," Richard added, "Let's talk about the partnership you promised me." He changed his posture and presence, relaxed from a moment ago, to sit straight and talk louder. "You didn't have time for me last week, and I've let you be this week because you have much going on, but, I won the CONOCO EXPLORATIONS account. I won't accept the bonus for it. I want partnership. You promised."
Did he promise? He said he would look into it. John knew he owed the man something for his troubles, but, he didn't want to be bullied into it either.
"Richard. If you will not accept the bonus, then, you are in for a long wait. I tried to reason with Vera about giving you an ownership stake two months ago when you brought it up and she refused. Our partnership is being dissolved, but as of today, she is still part owner. I cannot do anything about it while we are in this legal limbo. When I am the full owner, I will be in a better position to discuss this."
"But, you will give me a partnership percentage?" Ever the salesman, his eyes were piercing and insistent. His confidence was to be admired.
"I cannot even discuss it until all is said and done." John hoped that by then, Richard was out of the company. He needed to defer the issue and gain more time.
"I won't be dissuaded, John. I'll allow two months' time for you to get a better handle of your legal issues…But, at the end of it, I either want a partnership stake, or a signed and legal letter of intent. If not, I walk. "
"Thank you for your consideration." He couldn't have said it more harshly if he had tried. His sarcastic tone was not lost on Richard, but the man did not budge. John wanted him out of there. "I think our conversation is over."
- 0 -
"Remind me why we are still trailing Vera?" Charles was being facetious. Of course he knew. Although the evidence of her affair had already been obtained, the identity of her lover was still a mystery. That, together with the fact that Mr. Bates was willing to continue to pay them to track her movements until the divorce and partnership dissolution were final, meant they were still on the job. Mr. Bates explained he didn't trust her at all. He said he had a feeling she would do something vindictive and he would rather be forewarned. Elsie agreed to it and convinced him because they didn't have another case at the moment and it would do no harm to generate some additional income.
Vera had not been following her routine, but that would be expected as she didn't have a job to go to. Yesterday, on Thursday, she had not gone to the car lot at all. She would not make this easy for them. Since she had stopped going to the office, the only noteworthy excursions were her two visits to the law offices of Sampson and Bullock. She was likely preparing her defense.
"Griping won't make our time in this car any more pleasant. If you're bored, or want some air, pop the hood of the car and pretend we're stranded. You could check all the fluid levels while you're at it."
There was nothing wrong with their car. It worked well. They downgraded their vehicle for today, leaving the van at home. They did not require as elaborate surveillance, just following the GPS signal was necessary. Their "car issues" ploy had always worked in the past and Charles had employed it when he was restless. Not that they had been waiting long. So far, they had followed her to a café in the middle of York, a chic little place, where, as Elsie believed, the coffee, tea, and cakes were probably overpriced. More so than the Costa and Starbucks chains she so vehemently abhorred.
Vera found a spot in front of the store and parked her car. Their vehicle was on the street, on the opposite curb, and they had a good view of the storefront and the customers within. Vera had arrived alone ten minutes ago, had ordered a beverage and sat down. It looked as if she were waiting for someone, speaking into her mobile and looking at her wristwatch. If Elsie were to guess, it was her lover telling her he would be late. At least she hoped. She would never admit it to Charles, but, this case was also starting to bore her.
Charles could be a patient man, but his logic made this continued trailing senseless. Mr. Bates had what he wanted. Thus, while they had only been at the location for less than a quarter hour, Charles felt cooped up and he decided to use the distraction suggested by Elsie.
He turned to his wife with a frown on his forehead and she understood he was agreeing with her. Without any further words, he took a flat cap from the backseat to use as a facial deterrent and minor costume change and placed it on his head. He added a pair of glasses that had no prescription increase, but were held together by a piece of tape in the center. He exited the vehicle and within a few minutes, he was standing forward of the car, staring into the engine. He knew the basics, although he could never call himself a mechanic, and he set about checking the oil and steering fluid, the hydraulic fluid and the water for the wipers. Only the water was dangerously low and he made a mental note to replace it.
All the while he was tinkering with the car, a woman with a pram appeared in front of the café. He had noticed her a moment before as she turned the corner. She was making her way towards the store and that was when he recognized her. Edna. He didn't know what to make of it. Through Anna, he was aware that Vera and Edna had conversations, but they were never social enough to imagine that they were friends. She accused her husband of harassment and then there was the odd business with the Strallan fellow. Could this be a business meeting? He ought to go inside and find out. Even if the beverages were overpriced, he'd buy himself something to justify his presence. Maybe some of the biscotti these little places always had at the counter. Or maybe, the water he needed for the wiper mechanism.
He gestured to Elsie, who had also seen Edna arrive. She lowered the car window.
"I'm going inside. I'll buy something. Do you want anything in particular?"
"From there? I'll never spend my money on such overpriced tea and coffee. No thank you, I have everything I need right here." She gestured at the thermos that sat upright in the car's beverage holder.
"Fine." Charles rolled his eyes as Elsie rolled up the window once more.
He opened the boot of the car to pull out a container for the water and moved towards the store. He entered and noticed that Vera was holding the little tyke on her lap at the same time she was babbling baby words. The baby's excited hands flailed about. This had to be a social meeting between them for Vera to do that. He couldn't imagine that Edna would allow Vera to hold her child if they were at odds with each other, or just acquaintances.
"Can I help you?" asked the perky teen behind the register. There was nobody in the line in front of him, so he was helped quickly.
"Yes, please. I'm having some car issues. I was hoping you might help me and fill this container with water?" He could see Vera hand back the child which Edna promptly placed back into the pram.
"I can only help you if you are a customer of ours."
He thought that was harsh. "What does that mean?"
"It means you need to buy something."
Charles huffed. It couldn't compare, but he wondered if he had walked in bloody and injured, if they would have taken that approach. They were talking too much, he had hoped it would be quieter so he could overhear. He took a pack of biscuits from the counter and handed them forward.
"Will this do?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "Would you like to use the restroom to top that off?" She held out the key.
If he went to the restroom to fill out the container, he would miss out on the conversation. As it was, he could hear Edna talking about Anthony's rudeness and how he had been talking back at her. She wondered the reason for it.
"Could you just fill it with your water?" He pointed towards a water spout.
"Are you sure you want this water? She pointed at the same spigot.
"Yes."
"But it's filtered, oxygen replenished, and it contains a low mineral density to achieve exceptionally tasting tea and coffee. It's not tap water."
In the background, Charles could here Vera talking now. She was assuring Edna that John had something to do with it. He was having a bout of overconfidence lately. She went on to tell Edna about his demanding a divorce.
"That will do," Charles smiled at the girl as he handed over the container. The girl looked confused, but followed his orders.
"A divorce? How dare he?" commented Edna as Charles just lounged at the counter a few feet away. The young lady filled the container and he was happy he had an excuse to be there.
"Oh, don't worry about it. He'll not be happy for long," Vera countered.
"Why? Are you planning something?... Do tell!" Edna was excited.
"Oh, you know me." Vera smirked cheekily, inviting Edna's comments.
"I know, you're such a mastermind." Edna sung Vera's praises, which seemed to be what Vera wanted, as she smiled wide. She was about to answer when the young lady addressed him, distracting his attention from the two malicious women.
"Do you want anything else?" He couldn't hear Vera over the young lady's voice. He took some bottled juice from the refrigerated section beneath the register. He could justify his need to sit down if he drank this in the store. He pushed it forward on the counter.
"How will you manage it?" Edna asked which led Charles to understand he had missing hearing what she intended to do. Buggar. That annoyed him.
"That will be 35 pounds," offered the perky barista.
Did he hear right? He could care less about the conversation now. Thirty five pounds?
"Excuse, me? How much are these items?" He held up the juice and biscotti.
In the background he could here Edna gasp. Something must have caused surprise.
"The biscuits are two pounds and fifty and the juice is two pounds and ninety five."
"Yes, so that's five pounds forty five." Her math was obviously off.
"Correct…. And that's twenty nine pounds and fifty five for the water." Her face was deadpan serious.
"How can water be that expensive?" He wanted to shout, but did not dare bring attention to himself with Vera and Edna in the café. His was an aggressive whisper.
"I told you it was filtered, oxygen replenished and with a low mineral density for optimum coffee and tea taste. It's not tap and it's not free. This is enough water for seven lattes." The teen's cynical answer annoyed Charles. She even huffed, making it sound as if he were a dolt for even asking and not understanding.
"You didn't say it wasn't free," Charles responded in the most passive aggressive tone he could muster as he pulled out his wallet. He didn't have time to discuss this, lest he lose the rest of the conversation. The barista took his credit card, as he had no cash to pay such an amount. Elsie would be livid if she discovered what he'd done.
Vera was cackling now and Edna was amused by something too.
He took his canister, juice and biscotti and sat at the table next to them, with his back against them.
"This has been a most pleasant conversation," Edna exclaimed as she stood, fussing with baby Michael in his pram. "But, I must run. We have a doctor's appointment, don't we darling?" She leant down to kiss her child. She turned to Vera. "You must ring me once it's all done. I'm dying to know how it will all come out."
Vera stood to kiss Edna's cheek. "Oh, I will, love….Sooner than you think."
With that, Edna left and Charles could only bang his head against the table. He had missed it all.
- 0 -
"Hello lovely." She would answer because she had to, even when she saw that it was him who was calling her. What a day, really. She had encompassed a whole gamma of emotions. She went from elation, to anger, to awkwardness. She couldn't recall a days as full of opposites as this one. She sighed. It was Joseph Molesley - sweet, dense and creepy Joe.
"Hello." She hoped her disappointment didn't come through. As much as she cringed every time she needed to talk to him, she wasn't the type of person to make someone else feel bad.
"I have the information you requested and something else that needs discussing. Can you talk?"
Anna had just arrived home, and had opened the door to her cupboard. She was wondering how to pack for a trip when she had no idea where she was going. She was placing her overnight case on her bed when the phone rang. She guessed she could pack and talk. Whatever he had to say was likely relevant for her trip as well.
"Yes, go on." Anna pulled open some drawers to start making selections.
'I've been doing the research you requested." Anna had asked of him so many things lately, that she had no idea what this could be about.
"And?" was all she could think to ask as she pulled out some lingerie. She couldn't take something too sexy, even if she did hope that there was more intimate time between them. This was about his revelations and his past. She couldn't look like she was out to get him. She had to find something coquettish, yet subtle, just in case the mood arose for such activities.
"I can't really tell where that tweet came from. I tried hacking into the account, but the sender is too smart." Ah. So this was about the tweet. She'd hoped he could crack the mystery. It really did vex her to not know anything about its origin or intent. "The user has a strong password that my code breaking algorithm cannot decipher just yet."
"How so?" Joe was a master. If he couldn't crack something, nobody else could. She put two pairs of matching bras and knickers in her bag, even when it was only one night that they would be away. Just in case, she thought. She wouldn't go for too much color. She had sensible white with a wisp of lace and a demure and cute light pink that wasn't too adorned, but was low cut.
"I'm impressed really. My algorithm manages to plot the first three letters of the password. This took about 8 hours, but then the algorithm stops. When I run the algorithm again, the first letters are different. It's as if the user changes the password every day. It's odd and infuriating. It's never happened to me before."
Joe seemed stressed and she wanted to be sensitive, but she couldn't figure out why he wanted the password. She would rather have a location. "Do we really need to hack the account? Can you not track the IP address for a general location?"
Choosing her pajama was next. The same rationale applied. She hoped they were able to share a bed. She couldn't take anything too revealing, but she wanted to come across as sexy. She didn't know where they were going and that made the selection a challenge. If it was hot, she didn't want to take anything too covered and if they were going somewhere cool, a short and tank top set might not be warm enough. She would have to take two options if she could. There was no way around it. She sifted through the pile of old t-shirts and sweatpants, searching for the best choices as Joe struggled to answer her question.
He huffed in exasperation. He often did that when he had to explain something too technical. "To find out who they are, I need to hack the account so that I can download tracking software onto their mobile or computer, whatever they are using to send the tweet. I cannot get an IP address unless I succeed at getting in." It all made sense to Anna now. "But don't worry, I'll keep trying. I may have to fiddle with my algorithm to make it work faster, but I will get in and get the information."
Joe continued talking. "Next, I have an update on the Strallan investigation." Anna was pleased to hear this. She really did want to help Anthony. More so, after Pops had texted her to explain that he had seen Vera and Edna having a chat at a local café. Those two were up to something for sure.
She sighed internally as she determined she didn't have any male-company worthy pajamas. If she'd had more advanced warning, she would have purchased some. The ones she owned were too old or too embarrassing. John Bates did not need to see her penchant for wearing Hello Kitty and other cute baby mammals all over her night clothing. She needed something more adult. She'd have to raid Mary's pajama drawer, regardless of the wrath she would later face.
Next, she looked for outfits to wear.
"We definitely need a DNA test, but, I've hacked the National Health Service database and found the medical records for Anthony Strallan, Edna Braithwaite, Michael Phillips and Niall Phillips."
"What did you find?" She asked as she pulled two light jumpers and a pair of jeans into her case.
"The baby couldn't possibly be Strallan's. I've looked at their three blood types and this baby is an AB blood type when Anthony is an A."
Anna stopped what she was doing to understand better.
"Are you positive?" Anna was excited, but before she started to celebrate, they needed more clarification.
"We need the DNA test to make it legal, and I am no geneticist, but if you google it, you'll find Blood Type Calculators. Before the dawn of DNA, this is how paternity was determined. It still used in some cases." He paused and the ruffling of papers could be heard in the background. "So this is how it works…Anthony is blood type A and Edna is blood type A. According to the calculator, a child of A-A parents can only be another A or O. In this case, Michael is AB. Since Edna is definitely his mother and she is an A, then Anthony cannot be the father. Niall has B type blood. Parents with A and B, can produce an AB blood type child. I say, Niall is the father, not Anthony."
Anna was very delighted. She even stopped her packing for a moment to fully digest the news.
"You're a genius, Joe." He chortled out loud, snorting in the process and Anna cringed again. He was a genius and a real character, and was obviously excited to get praise from her. She couldn't avoid it though, no matter her discomfort. He deserved the recognition.
"You'll have to figure out how to get a lock of the child's hair to do the actual DNA test, but at least you can take on the challenge knowing what the result will be." Joe sounded very proud of himself.
Mr. Bates would be so pleased. She couldn't wait to tell him tomorrow.
"Is that it, Joe?" She was trying to be pleasant, he was, after all, working while she should, but she still needed to finish packing. She was also exhausted. She had barely slept last night and she should get a better rest this evening, especially given what her weekend would be like.
She had already added another pair of casual paints and some dressy slacks, in case they went out. She had added some sports shorts and a sports top, plus two cute tops – one for the day and one for the dressy slacks. She finished by adding a sun dress. It seemed like a lot of clothing to her, but she needed to be ready for anything.
"No, there is one other troubling piece of information I encountered." His tone of voice changed and he hesitated to continue.
She looked at her shoe collection.
"What's troubling?"
She tossed some sandals, her tennis shoes, some black dressy heels and some casual flats into her bag.
"Remember how we had looked at all of the Bates' accounts, both personal and company?"
"Yes, I remember." Anna was looking at accessories now. She wondered if she should take a hat, or scarves?... definitely her glasses and a belt for the pants. She added those to her bag.
"I looked at them again this week and I find something odd. There's money missing."
Anna stopped again. This caught her attention.
"What do you mean there's money missing? Whose account are you talking about?"
"It's from the main company account. Usually, there is a monthly disbursement from the company account into Mr. Bates' main account and Mrs. Bates' main account. That is their monthly allotment, or their revenue gain. That is fine. There are also several disbursements to vendors, the leasing of the helicopters, payroll, etc. Those payments usually come with notes and descriptions when a payment is issued. There are several payments, though, that have no notes. They are usually small and not referenced anywhere. There was a rather large disbursement of this type, though, just yesterday evening. I thought you should know about it."
"Where are they going?...those odd disbursements?"
"They are going to a Swiss account under the name of John Bates. I don't know if it is important, but, I just thought I would mention it. It's odd, but maybe not illegal."
"Thanks Joe. Have a good evening."
"Alright. Good night, love. Sweet dreams."
When Joe signed off from their conversations, she finished packing immediately. By adding her cosmetics, hair supplies and toiletries, her case was full. Quickly, she went to Mary's room, taking advantage that she wasn't home yet. She found what she was looking for, a two piece silver grey silk short and top that was elegant, and playful. It had some sheer panels right above the breast plate. It had pearl buttons down the front, but was shapely. This would do. She put it into her bag and zipped it up.
She was ready, but she had a heavy heart. She didn't know what that data meant or if it had any relevance at all to the case. She hoped it was nothing and that there was a reasonable explanation for it. She was set to learn all of his secrets tomorrow and she hoped that the mystery of the diverted funds was part of it.
Before she could actually settle down for the night, she looked at the latest warning Mr. Bates had received. He had slipped it to her this morning, after they'd shared their cuddles in the crew lounge. She was still confused by it all. Why would he continue to get warnings if he'd already announced his divorce in the office? Who could be doing this? There weren't too many people that had his best interest at heart at the compound. If somebody had any issues, she wished they'd just come out and tell him. If somebody knew something, why were they keeping the information to themselves? It didn't make sense. She compared this note to the first one. The font and size were the same, even when the words were not. While the first note had striations from a faulty printer cartridge, the second note was intact.
She put the papers in the manila folder where she kept all her notes. There was so much she had to do, and yet, no specific tasks to complete, as she didn't know what she was looking for. She leafed through some of Vera's documents and nothing stood out except her investments. Maybe she should ask Joe to verify if Mr. Bates had the same ones….or, she could ask him herself tomorrow. That would be better.
A yawn escaped her, followed by her eyes that insisted they should close. It was no use to concentrate. Not tonight, not after the last twenty four hours and not when she was less than twelve hours from seeing him again. She could postpone looking at her files for the next two days, she decided, and made herself comfortable in her bed. She was looking forward to the blissful rest and the next two days with him. Just as she turned off the lights, her phone beeped with another notification. She rushed to see if it was from him, maybe with another adorable tweet. It wasn't, much to her disappointment. It was from incognitohelper, once again.
EYEINTHESKY - ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND, BUT DO NOT DESIST. THE TIME TO PROVE YOUR WORTH IS NEAR. #heedmywarning
How would she get any rest now? What was that supposed to mean? She prayed that Joe would figure out who it could be. Why was this happening to her?
- 0 -
"That's a new look I haven't seen before." Robert observed John as he situated himself at the bar. "You seem much freer, and there's a look about you."
"I filed for divorce and the dissolution of the partnership." John was beaming, but it was not just about those two things.
"Bravo! That deserves a toast, something special." Robert pulled a bottle of his finest Irish whisky and poured himself a glass. "What'll it be for you?" He was genuinely pleased for his friend after years of listening to the most frightful stories.
"I'll have the usual." John had learned to live off of alcohol. It wasn't worth it in his mind to go back to his old habits.
"Not even once, John? This warrants celebrating."
"Not even once Rob. I'll not celebrate the end of my misery with the device that started it all." John looked very secure.
"Good boy. We can make the usual extra special." Wordlessly, he poured the diet coke into a champaign flute and added an extra lemon. "There, that is toast worthy now."
Robert then took the posture of a bard, ready to commence a declamation. He even lifted his arm into the air. "To my friend, John. May this be the start of a new and different life and a much better future."
They clinked their glasses and drank up. When they set the glasses down, John continued to stare at his friend. He wondered if he should talk about Anna. Men weren't supposed to kiss and tell, but he was just so happy, he needed to share his joy with somebody or he might burst. Surely it was allowed under these circumstances?
Robert figured that he hadn't heard the whole story when he saw John with an unexplainable anxiety.
"There is something else, isn't there? I can't read that look."
"I slept with Anna." A slow smile crept up and his eyes sparkled.
"…..and that would be the look." Robert tilted his head, contemplating his friend as he formulated his next thought. "Was that wise, John? Couldn't you have waited until all of this was over?"
"No, it wasn't wise, I'll grant you that. But…. It was sublime. For the first time in years, I felt alive….and capable of emotions I didn't remember existed. She's exquisite; all of her and you know what? I don't regret it."
"What about Vera? Are you not afraid of what could happen if she finds out?"
"A part of me will always be afraid of her. When Callum died, she lost so much of her logic and sense. It seemed to die with him. I can't live my life, though, under the shadow of her evil. It is time to move forward. Anna has agreed to keep our relationship discreet until the divorce is final. I doubt Vera will find out as we will be very careful."
"Well, I am pleased to see you happy for a change and I wish you luck with this." Robert appeared happy, but he was holding back his thoughts.
"We are going away this weekend. I am taking her flying." Robert looked at him inquisitively. "I'm telling her about what happened in Mostar - about Callum."
"Isn't it a bit soon?" Robert looked unsure and worried. He wasn't holding back his thoughts now.
"She's a private investigator and I don't want her to find out on her own." John looked away, contemplating his thoughts. "She knew about Edna and what happened in the court. I won't risk her finding about the rest of it, without me telling her first." He looked very determined and sure of himself.
"Blimey. She must be very important to you. I thought you might just be having fun." Robert flailed his hands for emphasis. "Are you sure? You've not gotten out of one relationship and you are already starting another."
"I'm sure Robert. I don't know what it is about her, but, she makes me very happy. I don't want to mess this up."
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A/N: Next chapter will see Anna and Bates set off on an adventure and we will find out about his many secrets! What does Vera have in store for John? Will Richard be contained? Stay tuned for these answers in the coming chapters.
Thank you to all the lovely readers, followers and reviewers. I appreciate all of you. I wouldn't be writing this story if it wasn't for you.