CHAPTER 35

AN: What do you think about Stephanie's growth? If she returns to Trenton, will she be a force to be reckoned with, or will she fall back into old behavior patterns?

DAY 71

Sunday

FINN POV

I insisted Steph sleep in the last few days to make up for her time working on the case. I even stayed with her to ensure she didn't get up. Sometimes we slept, and other times I wore her out, and then we slept. I was an evil genius that way.

We still hadn't heard from Oz, and the longer it took for him to call, the antsier she became. Staying active made it easier, so I drove us further up the mountain on Saturday to rent a couple of inner tubes and lazily float down the river. Today, we knee-boarded and skied around the lake. In the afternoon, we picnicked on our island and spent a few hours exploring each other's bodies. I was prepared this time and remembered to bring the condoms.

Lying on the blanket under our maple tree, she came up on her elbows to look at me. "I need to know what's happening with the case. Did the camera record the murder and kidnapping? Did he find Charlie? Is he alive? I have so many questions and no answers." Her frustration kept her from relaxing. If Oz doesn't call by tomorrow, I'd call him.

Finally wearing herself out, she fell asleep. I lay on my side and looked at her, memorizing every inch. She'd be gone soon, and all I'd have were memories. She stirred and rolled onto her stomach. In the early afternoon light, I saw the faint scars. She thought they were much worse than they were, and I couldn't make her believe otherwise. Rage filled me. If Hunter Durant wasn't already dead, I'd kill him myself. Taking a calming breath, I reached out to touch the marks he'd left on her… to take away the brutality they represented. I looked at my big, calloused hands and cringed. Touching her delicate skin with them seemed wrong somehow.

She rolled over, pulling her leg over me in a body hug. Her eyes slowly opened as she ran her finger across my chest. I didn't have a lot of hair, but it was more than a dusting, which she seemed to like… a lot.

"Were you staring at me while I slept?"

"Maybe." She could always bring a smile to my face.

"Have you noticed I haven't had a panic attack in a few weeks?"

"I've noticed." She used the inside stairs to the basement without trouble and conquered her fear of going to the grocery store. She also ate peanut butter and let me touch her back without flinching. The trust she put in me brought me to my knees.

"That's all because of you." She tapped my chest for emphasis.

"No, it's not. You did all the hard work. You read the books and challenged yourself. That took guts."

She hid her face against my chest and whispered, "But I couldn't have done any of that without your support."

"I just stood back and watched."

"I knew you'd catch me. That's what made the difference."

"Don't shortchange yourself. You are the strongest person I've ever met."

She held up her arm, flexing to make her muscle pop. "I am strong. Just look at this monster."

I gave her bicep a squeeze and chuckled. "It's bigger than it was."

She looked down at my cock. "So is that. Have you been working out?"

She was a cheeky woman. "You know, I didn't think you'd make it past the first week of training," I confided, knowing it would pique her temper. "In fact, I was hoping to run you off." She pulled a chunk of the chest hair she'd been lovingly running her fingers through. "Owe!" I moaned as if she'd hurt me when we both knew she hadn't. "I changed my mind about you pretty quickly. Does that help?"

"Yes." She smoothed the sting on my chest and then kissed my skin. "Am I your best student?"

"Best student I ever had." She laughed, most likely thinking I was playing with her, but I was telling the truth.

"My infallible lie detector tells me…." She paused as she thought about what I'd said and then looked me in the eye as if she couldn't believe the conclusion she'd come to. "You're telling the truth."

"I am," I said with the seriousness of a heart attack because she needed to know I judged her as top-notch.

Her fingers started inching their way down my stomach. "Let's see what kind of student you are because I have something I want to teach you."

I might have gulped. Our time together was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Taking the lead, she pumped my cock with the right amount of pressure. I thought I would spill right then, but she backed off. Each time I was about to cross over the edge, she brought me back down and started all over. She would pay for this. Finally, before she let me finish, she smiled an evil smile that promised all kinds of trouble. The student had indeed become the teacher. Bring it on.

DAY 72

Monday

STEPH POV

Oz called Monday afternoon during sparring. Finn listened for a minute, and a smile split his face. He gave me a thumbs-up. "They got Charlie. He's okay."

My entire body relaxed, but I needed more information. I tried waiting patiently while Finn got the details, but it was taking too long. I started pacing. Then my hands found their way to my hips, and I might have thought about tapping my foot.

"You should tell her," Finn said into the phone, then held it out to me.

I grabbed it. "What's happening? Is Charlie really okay?" I needed to hear confirmation from Oz.

"Charlie's safe. Not a bump or bruise on him."

I sighed with relief, and then my mind switched gears. "Was there really a video camera hidden in the train? Did it record the crime?"

"It got the entire thing. Even the investigators unwittingly made cameos as they collected evidence from the crime scene."

I threw my hands in the air and tapped my foot this time. "So… who murdered Mrs. Porter and kidnapped Charlie?"

"It was Cheryl Monahan, the nanny."

"No!" I was truly shocked. "Wait a minute. Didn't Mr. Porter come home to find her unconscious on the kitchen floor? How could she be the murderer/kidnapper if she was also a victim?"

"Her girlfriend admitted to hitting the nanny on the head. They hoped to throw suspicion off her."

"In her statement, the nanny seemed so broken up about Mrs. Porter's death and Charlie being missing. I honestly didn't think she was involved."

"You're not the only one. There are a lot of investigators shocked by this revelation."

"Why'd she do it?"

"The nanny's girlfriend couldn't have children, and Charlie made a good substitute. No one knew the nanny was in a relationship, so the girlfriend was never questioned. She wasn't on anyone's radar. If Mrs. Porter hadn't come home unexpectedly and overheard their phone conversation, she would have watched the video later that night and known what they had planned. She might have been able to inform the police. She might have lived. But that wasn't how it played out. The girlfriend was impatient and pressured the nanny to speed up the kidnapping timeline."

"Wow! That's just… wow! I've encountered some depraved people, but this is next level."

"My thoughts exactly. Mr. Porter and Charlie are very grateful they're back together. He couldn't stop thanking me for everything."

"I'm glad you didn't mention my name. I don't want any publicity… good or bad. After Durant, the last thing I need is my name in the news again."

"Well…" He sounded strained. "I tried to keep your name out of it, but they were making me out to be some kind of hero for solving the crime. I couldn't take credit for something I didn't do. But don't worry. The feds know your contribution but are thrilled to take credit for this win. Trust me, they won't out your name."

"Make sure they don't." My privacy meant a lot to me. I wasn't ready to be back on anyone's radar. I needed to be firm about that.

"How's it feel to know that every agent is impressed with your investigative skills?" Oz asked. "Still feel like a loser?"

I hadn't realized it, but tears spilled down my face at the joy of finding out Charlie was alive and unhurt. My throat was closing up, and I couldn't talk. Handing the phone back to Finn, I ran out into the backyard and straight to my thinking rock. Lately, I'd been proud of myself for many things, but this was something important… something no one else had been able to do.