Walter was awake at 6.00am , but was content to lie there , his eyes still closed . He suddenly realized the bed felt different , the bed linen a different texture , the sunlight that usually filled the bedroom was not there . He then felt a pressure on his chest , then he heard the low purring noise .
He opened his eyes and was met with the site of brunette hair . Of course he had stayed the night in Paige's bed , just cuddled up to each other , it appeared Paige had not moved an inch since she snuggled up to him as soon as they both went to bed . If that was the case it meant Megan had slept straight though the night . She must have sensed Walter'a presense in the room , as Paige had told him she had to get up at least once , sometimes twice a night .
The smile on his face grew bigger as he began to think of Megan . Just a week ago he was alone , sad and depressed . But now he had Paige and Ralph back in his life plus the little princess Megan . Could it get any better .
As his mind began to go over the events of the past week , Megan made her presence known , by giving a little cry . Walter tried to get out of bed without disturbing Paige , he had only got one leg out of the bed before Paige stirred .
" Walter . " Paige asked in a very sleepy voice .
" Don't worry you stay there , Megan is calling , i will go and see her . "
" What time is it ? " Paige asked her eyes still closed .
" 6.15am. " Walter replied .
" What ! " Paige opened her eyes and moved away from Walter . " She is going to want feeding . That is the first time since she was born , that i have not been woken up at least once by her . "
Paige threw the bed clothes off and rolled out of bed and went to Megan's cot gently lifted her out and kissed her brow , Megan smiled at Paige .
" You want to see daddy ? " Paige said the smile getting bigger on her face .
Megan again uttered " Da, da. "
Walter made his way over to them and Paige handed her to Walter .
" I think she needs changing , i will go and get a clean diaper , i can then feed her . Would you mind putting on a fresh pot of coffee ? But put some pants on first . " Paige turned and walked away .
She returned a few minutes later and took Megan from Walter . " I have to tell you that was the best night's sleep i have had since we broke up , your presence seemed to have kept Megan content as well , thank you . " As she finished speaking , she leaned into Walter and planted a kiss on his lips .
" Now go and put the coffee on . But first put your pants on . "
Once everyone was ready and the breakfast things were cleared away , they made their way back to Walter's house . This time Walter drove them all back in his Range Rover .
Everyone went up to the loft office , Walter back on the computer trying to trace the money , Ralph still trying to get information on Baltic Holdings or the Squires . Paige began to go through the file she had found the day before . She soon realized she needed space to spread the documents out , unless she used the floor , no were in the office was there enough space .
She walked over to Walter . " I need space to sort this file out so i am going to take it down to the kitchen and use the island . Do you want me to take Megan with me ? "
Walter looked up at her , a smile on his face as he shook his head . " I think she is content on the end of my desk . "
Paige moved closer to her and planted a kiss on his lips . " Make sure you look after our little girl . " She told him as she picked up the file and made her way to the door , stopping to rub Ralph's hair . He looked up from the tablet and smiled .
After a couple of hours , Walter's phone rang . It was Jackie from the cleaning company to say all the curtains and bedding was waiting to be returned . Walter agreed for them to come on Thursday at 10.00am. to rehang the curtains and make up the beds . Being certain Paige would be more than happy to be there to let them in . Jackie also told him she would also leave a quote for a weekly clean and a contract so he could read through it .
By 1.00pm. neither Walter and Ralph were much further forward than when they started . Megan was getting a little grumpy , despite Walter's attempts to calm her by talking to her .
" I think Megan is hungry , lets go see how your mom is getting on and stop for lunch . " Walter suggested .
Ralph as usual was always ready to eat . When they arrived at the kitchen , they saw almost half of the kitchen island was covered in paperwork . Walter put Megan , in her bassenet , on the clear space of the island and walked over to Paige , pulled her into a side hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek .
" Our little girl is grumpy , no matter how much i talk to her . "
Paige smiled . " She probably needs changing and most likely is hungry . Can you and Ralph get the sandwiches out of my bag and put a pot of coffee on . I will go to your bedroom and feed and change her . Once we have eaten i want to go over a few of the things i have found in the file . I need the input of both of you . "
Once they had finished eating and everything cleared away , Walter looked at Paige a smile on his face .
" Ok , we are ready to listen to what you have found , but first i must tell you . Jackie phoned this morning to inform me the curtains and bedding are ready . I have arranged for her to come over Thursday at 10.00am. , i hope you can be here to let them in and check on their work . "
Paige smiled . " I will be here eveyday until i have logged all the items in the house . "
" Thank you , now do you want to show us what you have found ? "
Paige moved back to the kitchen island and picked up a pile of papers . " These are all invoices , everyone of them are for farm equipment , but no real description of the items . Considering what was on the boxes upstairs , i am pretty certain they also contain arms . I have cross checked these with this pile , which are letters confirming the despatch of the goods .
Everyone is different , with regard to names and addresses . They are spread around the world , but a lot are addresses in the States . "
Walter looked concerned . " This is turning into a real serious situation , gun crime in the States seems to be getting worse and a lot of it can only be put down to people like the Squires . "
Paige walked over to him and pulled him into a tight hug . " You cannot be responsible for what other people do , all we can do is to do our best to stop what we can . The Squires are dead , so by now someone else as no doubt taken over the trade . When we eventually get Homeland involved , the names and address we have discovered will no doubt prove useful . The paperwork also shows the Squires were pulling a tax scam . "
Walter pulled back from the hug a little so he could stare into Paige's eyes . " You have discovered proof for that as well ? "
Paige's face broke into an even bigger smile as she nodded her head . " Some of the other paperwork shows that all payments were made into Baltic Holdings . They then payed out to all the subsideries , who have been sending bogus invoices for work done for Baltic Holdings .
The subsidery companies were also sending bogus invoices between each other , to move the money about even more . This would of cause mean that the tax returns would show low gross profit and by the time all the expenses were taken out , the net profit would be low , so tax payable would also be low . "
Walter looked at her , his face full of pride as well as love . " You managed to figure all that out from all this paperwork ? "
Paige again nodded her head before answering . " Well i did do Scorpion accounts for four years and after sorting all your systems out was easy . "
Walter again smiled . " We were not that bad . Were we ? "
Paige just smiled .
" Well done mom , i wish we had as much success . Baltic Holdings do not appear to be on any social media , dads computer is slow , it is taking to long to break through the various firewalls . " Ralph said proud of what his mom had done , but unhappy he and dad had not got as far as they wanted to be .
Paige with a smile still on her face said . " Let me tidy this paperwork up , then i suggest we call it a day and maybe take a drive to the beach and spend a hour of family time on the sand . "
Both Walter and Ralph nodded in agreement .
Just over a hour later the little family were walking along the beach . Walter proudly carrying Megan in his arms . Paige and Ralph proudly walking on each side of him . All the time they were walking , Walter was quietly speaking to Megan , describing everything that was around them . Megan seemed mesmerized by his voice .
After about twenty minutes they turned round and made their way back to the car . Paige put her arm around Walter , who was still talking quietly to Megan . Paige listened in on the conversation and her mind went back to the night of the breakup . She remembered one of the insults she had thrown at Walter . I want to walk on the beach , without a marine survey and detailed description of every creature . Now listening to Walter doing exactly the same with Megan , she realized it was Walter's way of shareing how much love he had for her by shareing his information with her . A tear began to run down her cheek . She had been such an idiot that night .
By the time they reached the car , Megan had fallen into a contented sleep , feeling safe in Da, Da's, arms .
Paige removed Megan from Walter's arms and gently placed her in the bassenet . " I think the little girl needs a diaper change . "
Walter smiled . " I thought something was wrong on the way back . How about we go back to the house , you can change her diaper and if necessary feed her again . We can then go to Kovelsky's for something to eat . "
Paige pulled Walter into a hug . " Thank you , i found your talk to Megan really entertaining and it made me realize just how stupid i was to tell you i wanted to walk on the beach without a lecture . It was just your way of showing how happy you were to be with me . "
Walter tightened his hold on her and just said . " The past is history , now just look at the present and the future . Now who is for Kovelsky's ? "
Both Paige and Ralph said . " Yes . " Paige adding . " Lets go and sort Megan out first . "
By the time they had been back to Walter's house , sorted Megan out it was about two hours before they arrived at Kovelsky's .
As they were in Walter's car , once they left Kovelsky's , Walter drove them all back to Paige's condo .
Once there , Paige took Megan into the bedroom and changed her into her nightwear , before putting her into her cot . Walter came in to say goodnight to her and was greeted with a Da, Da, from Megan , which bought a big smile to his face .
Ralph went to his room to prepare for school the next day , before going to bed . Walter and Paige snuggled up on the sofa , content to just be in each others company .
At 10.30pm. Walter got up off the sofa . " It is time i was making my way home . "
Paige's face fell and she began to pout . " Can't you stay again , last night was so special , i never want to sleep alone again . "
Walter reached for her hand and gently pulled her up off the sofa and pulled her into a hug .
" I am back at work tomorrow , so i need my clothes which are at the house . I feel the same as you about last night , just to have you close to me was like being in paradise again . I want my whole family to move into the house , so we can begin to live as a family . However with what we have found over the last few days , it could be longer than i hoped . I have a spare key for the front door for you , so you can come and go as you please . "
Paige smiled a very weak smile . " Thank you so much . Do you really trust me that much ? "
Walter looked a little shocked . " I trust you with my life and a lot more . "
Paige still smiling , but it was not a smile of happiness . " Walter could you not stay the night , you could leave around 6.00am. , that would give you time to get home ,shower and change your clothes and still be at work for 8.30am. Please ! "
Walter's resolve melted at the look on Paige's face . " OK, you win . "
Paige planted a kiss on his lips , broke the hug , took his hand and led him into the bedroom .
" Cuddles only until we have seen Ann at least twice . " Walter reminded her .
Paige smiled . " I can work with that . " Then with a cheeky smile on her face . " Well that will be Friday night . That might just be a Buckle up Nerd Night . "
Walter's face almost split in two as the smile got bigger on his face . " OH Boy ! "
They spent the rest of the night as they had the night before .
Walter woke up at 5.30am. next morning , Paige again appeared not to have moved all night . He again tried to get out of bed without disturbing Paige , but only had the same success as the previous night .
" Walter , " She asked in a sleepy voice .
" Sorry i was trying not to disturb you you , but i need to get dressed so i can get home . "
" Five more minutes . Pleeese . " Paige asked almost pleading .
Walter again could not resist her , so he just pulled himself back into bed and put his arm around Paige and began to cuddle her . " Ok , five more minutes , then i must get ready .
" If you must . " Paige replied as she gave a little giggle .
Walter eventually managed to leave Paige's condo at 6.00am. then only because Megan needed feeding .
Paige arranged to go over to Walter's house , once she had dropped Ralph at school . She was determined to get some more of the items logged , before she would have to pick him up from work for the appointment with Ann.
Walter arrived at his office at 8.45am. . After working on one or two things that has been put on his desk during his two day vacation . Once he had finished , he phoned Richard to see if he was available for a conversation .
Richard told him to come right up . Ten minutes later he was knocking on the door to Richard's secretary . She called him in .
" Good morning Mr O'Brian , i trust you have had a good short vacation ? "
" Yes thank you , is Richard in ? "
" Yes , he is expecting you , please go in . "
Walter walked into Richard's office . Richard was sitting behind his desk , a gold pen in his hand and a pile of letters on the desk in front of him .
" Good morning Walter . " Richard said as Walter walked up to his desk and sat down on one of the chairs that were placed in front of the desk .
" Good morning Richard , i feel i owe you an explanation as to why i took two personnel days ."
Richard smiled . " Walter you do not owe me anything , you are entitled to a holiday . "
Walter changed his position on the chair . " I certainly do , this is in connection to the house you kindly gave me . "
Richard looked a little surprised . " Is something wrong with it ?"
Walter gave a half hearted smile before answering . " I suppose you could say that , it would be better if i began from Saturday . "
Walter explained all about the cleaning crew and his panic , bringing Paige , Ralph and Megan over . Then how he and Ralph had found the building in the garden . He then went on to explain about all that had been found and the involvement now of Homeland .
He also explained how he was trying to help Homeland but the computer he as available is not powerful enough for the job . How he regreted not having access to his old computer system in the garage .
Richard listened intently and in silence . Once Walter had finished speaking , Richard leaned back in his seat and a smile began to form on his face . He did not speak for a minute , then he leaned forward , put his elbows on his desk and steepled his hands . With no emotion in his voice he told Walter .
" I own the garage . "
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Grykon A few more little things for you to try and eliminate . Not sure if he was married so i left that to the reader .
Pearligirl Very pleased you are enjoying the story .
LouBe 96 . Well you know now it was a night of contenment and that is all , Paige is actually counting the days down before Buckle up nerd could be bought into the action LOL.