Prologue

She noticed him immediately. She had been taught.

His appearance made her pause in her stroll back to the mall. She remained approximately three feet inside the hallway that led to the restrooms near the food court at Shoreline Mall. She could watch him, but he would have a difficult time seeing her. She had been taught.

Other patrons of the mall lingered at tables in the food court or stood in lines at one of the food vendors' counters. If anyone else had noticed the man wearing a Kevlar vest and carrying the duffel bag they hadn't reacted as she had. She had been taught.

She continued watching from the hallway as the man stopped just inside the doors leading to the west parking lot of the mall. He wasn't leaving as she had hoped. He was positioning himself between the people in the food court and their quickest exit. This could all be staged. Some sort of drill or test of security response to an active shooter, but her instincts told her otherwise. Her right hand reached inside her purse as the man slowly lowered the duffel bag to the tile floor, squatted with his back to the food court, and began to unzip it. She kept the man in her peripheral vision as she glanced over to the food court and looked up, taking in the whole environment. She had been taught.

Through the glass half-wall that provided a barrier for the Mezzanine level of the mall, she could see more than a dozen shoppers strolling across her field of vision, most distracted by their cell phones or focused on their next purchasing objective. She returned her attention to the man and saw him just rising after retrieving several items from the bag. While she had hoped that the intentions of the man were not as she had suspected, she saw that he had donned a balaclava over his face before standing. This, coupled with the sight of the automatic rifle with a thirty-round magazine and the pump-action shotgun dispelled any doubts. She used her left hand to lower her sunglasses from the top of her head and put them on. She then removed her right hand from her purse and held it at her side. Patience. She had been taught.

This was real. It took only seconds, but her instincts were verified as the half-wall barrier to the Mezzanine level exploded into thousands of pea-sized particles of tempered glass when the gunshot round struck it. As glass particles rained down on startled customers in the food court, several people on the Mezzanine level screamed in pain and fell to the floor, struck either by shotgun pellets or flying glass. When the man lowered the shotgun, leaving it dangling from the strap over his shoulder, and prepared to fire the automatic rifle into the stunned crowd in the food court, she reacted. She had been taught.

Bracing her left shoulder against the wall at the opening of the hallway to the food court, she took aim from twenty feet away and fired three perfectly grouped shots below his body armor, into the man's groin area. She heard the bullet casings clinking on the tile floor after each shot but ignored them as she watched the shooter fall immediately to his knees, dropping the assault rifle to the floor. As he bent over in agonizing pain, the strap of the shotgun slid down his arm, but he ignored it. She strolled quickly over to the man and kicked the automatic rifle out of his reach. She had been taught.

Keeping her back to the food court and the security camera that she knew was there, she pulled on the strap of the shotgun until the man's arm moved enough for her to extract it completely. She slid it out of his reach as well before finally gazing into the man's eyes. She knew that all he would be able to see in the reflection of her sunglasses would be his own eyes and the pool of blood that was spreading out beneath him. While the bullets from a P380 automatic were not as large as those from a nine-millimeter, three hollow points in the area where she had aimed would almost certainly hit the Femoral artery. Her aim had been true, and the results were evident. She had been taught.

His eyes were losing focus as the life drained out of his body. She stepped away from the spreading pool of blood, placed her pistol back into her purse, and walked quickly through the glass exit doors to the parking lot. Without hesitating at the sound of rapidly approaching sirens, she located her car, slid into the driver's seat, backed out of her spot, and headed for the mall exit. She would be clear of the scene before anyone could get a description of her. She had been taught.

Chapter One

"Any instructions for the new volunteers?" asked the intake clerk.

Dr. Kathryn Frances Brandt paused to answer, "No, just take them through the typical orientation. Show them how the chip reader works and which units to use for the quarantine of specific animals."

As a volunteer herself, Katie knew that she had no authority to give instructions to any of the staff at the Humane Society shelter, but she accepted that as the weekend veterinarian her status would be viewed as superior to the rest of the staff, even the full-time employees.

Katie wheeled her beach cruiser bike out of the storage room off the shelter's lobby and steered it towards the door.

"Call me on my cell phone if any emergencies come in, Tina. Remember, Dr. Pettigrew will be covering for me in the morning."

Tina, the intake clerk for the shelter nodded and then simply waved goodbye to the back of Katie's head as the door closed behind her.

Katie removed her tortoiseshell glasses and replaced them with her sunglasses, placed her bicycle helmet over her short brown hair, and closed the strap connector under her chin before putting her backpack over her shoulders and mounting the bike. She checked the time on her cell phone, then slid it into the side pouch of the backpack and began the fifteen-minute ride home. Her appointment with the potential renters was more than an hour away, so she could make this a leisurely ride and still have time to shower before they arrived.

As she pedaled the beach cruiser towards her condo in Irvine, she was thankful once again that her brother had urged her to start riding it as an alternative to driving around on the day-to-day trips that she made. The weather in Southern California was usually quite conducive to riding a bike; neither too hot nor too cold and when there weren't dedicated trails to ride on, the streets were wide with bike lanes that took her virtually everywhere she needed to go. For those rare occasions when she needed a motor vehicle, she still had the pick-up truck sitting in her garage.

Katie unlocked the gate to her patio and rolled her bike into its customary position. She checked the time again to ensure that she had enough for a shower before her appointment and saw that she was ahead of the schedule that she had set for herself. She entered her condo through the sliding glass door from the patio and locked it once more behind her. She removed her sunglasses, unpacked her backpack, and put her riding helmet inside it before storing it in the hall closet and heading to the master bedroom.

Sitting on the end of the bed to untie her high-top tennis shoes, Katie could see her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. The bike helmet always made her short hair look sweaty and disheveled, which had never been the case when her hair was longer. Sure, her long hair might look damp and flattened against her scalp where it had been under the helmet, but it would recover quickly to the silken, wispy waves of naturally highlighted brown locks that she had always treasured. She prayed that it would be in the same condition when it finally grew back.

She tossed her shoes onto the floor of the open closet, then unbuttoned the white safari shirt that she wore untucked over the top of her khaki cargo shorts. She examined the right sleeve of the shirt to verify that the stain treatment she had applied while at the shelter had removed the small drop of blood that had landed on her while treating the kitten with the torn claw. She saw a slight trace of the blood remaining, so she set the shirt aside rather than placing it into the laundry hamper to remind her to treat it further before washing it.

Katie emptied the pockets of her cargo shorts onto the top of the dresser before unfastening them and letting them slide to the floor. Lifting her left foot out of the bundle, she used her right foot to bring the shorts up to her hand and then tossed them into the hamper.

Examining herself in the mirror once more, she began to pull the sports bra over her head. The spandex material by itself made removing the sports bra tantamount to strenuous cardio-vascular exercise, but with the sweat from her bike ride thrown in, she felt that she had entered into an Olympic event by the time she had pulled it completely over her head.

Massaging the ridges left on her lower chest, sides, and back by the material of the sports bra, Katie lamented on her fading tan lines. Her complexion had always allowed her to tan easily, but she had not had the luxury of sunbathing or even wearing a bikini outside for months. She lowered her underwear to the floor and saw the same fading tan lines above her neatly trimmed pubic hair and around her thin waist. Her face, neck, and forearms were still tanned, but there were no distinctive lines associated with this because of the variety of clothes that she wore these days when she went out in public.

She picked up her discarded panties and dropped them into the laundry hamper as she walked into the master bathroom. While waiting for the water in the shower to warm, she stood in front of the vanity and ran her fingers through her hair. She watched as her arm motions made her firm breasts rise slightly. This caused her to contemplate when the last time was that she had performed a self-examination of her breasts, so she decided to do one while she was soaped up in the shower. She stepped into the large walk-in shower and lowered her head under the refreshingly warm stream of water.

~~~

Katie's cell phone chimed to indicate a text message right at the scheduled time of her appointment.

TAYLOR: Hi, this is Taylor. My brother and I are here to see the rental property we discussed.

KATIE: Are you at the front or the driveway gate?

TAYLOR: You suggested the driveway gate, so that's where we are.

KATIE: Good. I'll send a code to open the gate for you. Follow the drive around until you see the first trash containers. Park in the visitor spots near that and I'll meet you there.

TAYLOR: Okay. Be right there.

Katie entered her access code for the gate and then walked out the sliding door to the patio, through the patio gate, and watched as a silver 2028 Mustang hybrid convertible with a young couple inside came towards her. When she saw the vehicle slowing to park where she had instructed, she waved to the female passenger and walked over to meet her guests.

The man and woman exited at the same time and met Katie at the rear of the car. The woman was just a girl, Katie thought. She appeared to be still of high school age, but the man looked to be closer to her age of 25.

"Hi. Are you Katie Brandt?" the girl asked as she extended a hand.

Katie shook the girl's hand and said, "Yes, I am. You must be Taylor Davis."

"My real name is Taylor Oglethorpe-Davis, but please call me Taylor. This is my older brother Tyler."

"Taylor and Tyler," Katie thought. "This should be interesting."

Tyler extended his hand for Katie to shake, "Tyler Oglethorpe-Davis. I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Brandt."

"It's 'Miss', and I'm pleased to meet y'all. Are you ready for the grand tour?"

"We sure are" replied Taylor. "We're excited to see the condo that we discussed on the phone."

"Then follow me," Katie said as she turned and led the couple to the walkway that led to the front of the units.

"I noticed a slight accent," Taylor said as she walked beside Katie, relegating her older brother to a position behind them. "Although nowadays, dialects are seldom as distinct as they used to be."

"I was raised in Texas, so that must be what you heard" Katie confirmed. "The available unit is this one on the left."

They all stood at the entrance to an alcove between two condo units that formed a common courtyard that was faced by the front doors of both, directly across from each other and approximately fifteen feet apart.

"There are only these two units within this building and the only common wall is the one between the garages in the back. The floorplans are mirror images of each other."

Katie entered a code into her cell phone and only paused a few seconds for the application to send the signal that unlocked the front door of the unit across from her own. She turned the knob and held the door open for Taylor and Tyler to enter before her. Once everyone was inside, she closed the door behind them.

Taylor walked through the short entryway and into the living room without hesitation. Tyler was more deliberate in his examination of the unfurnished space, opening closet doors and inspecting window placements.

"You mentioned that this unit has four bedrooms?" Taylor asked.

Katie joined her in the living room before answering, "There is a master bedroom with an ensuite through those double doors."

She pointed across the living room. "There is a half bath back there across from the stairway, two bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill bath between them upstairs, and a room that could be used as an additional bedroom, an office, a den, or whatever else you wanted."

Tyler listened to her answer and walked silently into the master bedroom. Taylor walked into the kitchen to examine the appliances and cabinets for storage space.

"Do you like to cook?" Katie asked as she followed Taylor.

"I like to eat" Taylor giggled. "Fortunately, my lack of cooking experience hasn't been detrimental to me."

Katie smiled at the self-deprecating observation. Taylor wasn't seriously overweight, but it was obvious that she struggled to keep from being so. She dressed to flatter her abundant breasts while disguising the lack of a waist, along with her pillowy hips, thighs, and derriere. If she burned a few more calories than she consumed, Katie thought, Taylor would be in fine shape.

Katie turned to see if Tyler had finished his inspection of the master bedroom area and saw him just re-entering the living room. She could see nothing at all wrong with his physique. He certainly kept himself in far better shape than his sister. She averted her eyes from his, afraid of what they might betray. He was one very attractive man.

"Any questions about the master bedroom?" Katie asked him.

"No, it is pretty self-explanatory, though there are a few options for furniture placement that Taylor and I would need to discuss.

"Is it still your intention to share the condo?" Katie asked.

Taylor came out of the kitchen and joined her brother in the living room.

"My parents won't let me live entirely on my own yet. They don't even want me living in the dormitories at college, so Tyler has agreed to share a place with me."

"Whatever your circumstances, you sharing the unit is fine as long as you both sign the lease agreement" Katie assured them. "Do you want to see the upstairs now?"

"In a minute," Taylor said as she walked over to the sliding glass door and glanced out at the patio. "Is that a hot tub?"

Katie and Tyler walked over to stand beside her.

"Yes, that is a fully functional hot tub. It seats six adults. All the chemicals and equipment you would need to maintain it are stored in the garage. I can show you what is involved if you decide that you want the place."

Why did the thought of being in that hot tub with Tyler just flit into Katie's mind? She had no interest in thoughts like that.

Tyler turned and pointed to a door in the kitchen, "What's through that door? The garage?"

"Yes," Katie told him. "All the units have attached two-car garages. Want to see it?"

Without answering, Tyler walked over, unlocked the doorknob, and opened the door. He stepped into the garage and easily found the controls that turned on the overhead light and also operated the automatic garage door opener. He pushed the 'up-arrow' icon on the display panel and watched as the garage door slid open on its tracks before pushing the 'down-arrow' icon to return the door to its closed position.

"How many remotes are provided?" Taylor asked after Tyler had reentered the kitchen and closed the door to the garage.

Katie smiled and said, "The opener will pair with the Bluetooth in your cars or cell phones. Any other questions before we see the upstairs?"

"Just a couple," Taylor said, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"A title search on this address shows this property and the one across from it are both owned by a "Corvair Family Trust," which is some sort of holding trust out of Delaware that our family lawyers can find little information on. They also checked with a local agency and learned that up until now, all rentals in this complex have been arranged through the property management company for the complex. How do we know that you are authorized to lease this property to us?"

Katie leaned against the opposite kitchen counter and held Taylor's stare for several seconds before responding,

"The Corvair Family Trust is the only owner of multiple units within this complex, being these two in this building. All other units that are rented here are owned by absentee owners who need someone to manage them on their behalf. As a legal representative for the trust who occupies one of the units owned by the trust, the need for anyone else to manage the leasing of the other unit isn't necessary as long as I live here."

"I'm sorry, but Tyler and I come from a prominent family with several important political connections. We need to be confident that the owner or owners of any property we lease are not involved in anything illegal, unethical, or otherwise capable of bringing embarrassment to our family. I hope you can understand."

Pushing herself from the counter, Katie said, "I understand completely. If you'll follow me, I'll show you out and lock up."

Taylor took her brother's hand and squeezed it when she sensed him preparing to address Katie.

"Tell us about the owners. Please."

Katie glanced back at Taylor and said, "I don't feel obligated to share any information on the owners, especially with people that have not yet been vetted to see if they are who they claim to be. If you'll follow me, please..."

Taylor remained in the kitchen with her silent brother at her side.

"Do you know the owners, Katie? I mean are there actual people involved or just some corporate entity as the trust ownership suggests?"

Katie turned once more to answer her, "I know the owners quite well. This unit was originally purchased new by one of the family members back in the late seventies and the other unit was purchased by another family member from the original owners a few years later. To keep the ownership in the entire family, the titles were transferred to a trust where the children and their children could retain ownership through the generations without the titles having to be transferred each time. As you know, in California, every time a property title gets transferred or recorded, a new tax assessment is done. With the trust owning the property, the title never needs to change for those named in the trust to be recognized as legal owners."

"So, the trust was set up for the owners to avoid paying their fair share of property tax," said Taylor.

Katie opened the front door and stood aside to allow her guests to exit. Neither did, so she said, "No, the trust was set up to name all members of the Corvair family as owners. The property taxes are paid in full every year based on the assessed value at the time, which your property title search would have shown you. Now, please..."

"Okay," responded Taylor after looking at her brother for approval, "It seems like the Corvair Family Trust might not pose too great of a risk. You said the rent would be forty-two hundred per month. Why so low?"

Katie softened her tone but still held Taylor in a firm stare.

"If you want it to be higher, I can arrange that. I already told you that the trust holds the title, which should have made it obvious that there isn't a mortgage lien on the property. Without a mortgage, the only expenses that the owners incur are related to taxes, insurance and condo association fees. The tenants pay for their utilities, so the rent more than covers the expenses for the unit."

"I just don't want you to think that we need some sort of break or special consideration on the rent. Our parents are going to be paying the rent for me, and they seldom balk at giving me what I want."

"So, he gets a free ride by mooching off his sister?" observed Katie, nodding toward the still silent brother.

This brought a smile to Tyler's face for the first time. "Now that you mention it, I guess I do. Thanks, Sis."

Taylor smacked his arm playfully and said, "Let's check out the upstairs now. I need to see if there is a room suitable for your dungeon."

"Always the little princess" Tyler chuckled. "Lead the way."

After touring the rest of the condo, Taylor and Tyler agreed that they wanted to proceed with the lease application. Katie had reservations, especially where Taylor and her attitude were concerned, but locked up the unit and led them across to her condo to fill out the necessary forms.

"Oh my God!" shrieked Taylor. "What is that? It is so cute!"

Katie and Tyler followed his sister's extended finger and saw that she was pointing to a large glass aquarium-type container along one wall of the living room. There were portals on either side that led into clear plastic tubes that snaked around the living room, connecting other smaller rectangular glass containers. Each container held approximately half of its capacity in coarse sand. There were little mounds and burrows obvious in several of the containers of sand, and each was being warmed by a heat lamp mounted under the lid. Jumping around on top of the sand in the largest glass container was a small tan creature that resembled a miniature kangaroo.

Katie walked over to the largest aquarium and withdrew a plastic container from a compartment below it. She held the container and beckoned Tyler and Taylor to come closer.

"This is Sinbad. He's the pet jerboa that my older brother got for me. Jerboas are typically nocturnal, but Sinbad knows it's near twilight and time for his feeding. Otherwise, he would probably be in one of his burrows and you wouldn't get to see him. Do you want to feed him?"

"What's a jerboa, and where did it come from?" asked Taylor as she studied the large ears and oversized hind legs of the little critter that was still jumping around on the sand. "It looks like a kangaroo rat."

Katie corrected her, "Jerboas are from the family 'Dipodidae' while kangaroo rats belong to the family 'Heteromydae'. Kangaroo rats are native to North America and really don't resemble jerboas very much at all. Jerboas are a species of rodent found mostly in southern Asia and the Middle East. They live primarily in desert environments which is what his habitat here is trying to simulate for him".

" In a lot of ways, they are like a gerbil, but their diet is quite different. For example, jerboas don't eat hard seeds, but they love insects. At my home in Texas, I used to feed him scorpions. He also eats the remnants of any flowers that get delivered to me, but since that is a rarity, we've been sticking with the crickets and supplementing them with parsley."

Taylor leaned in to examine the jerboa more carefully while her brother silently watched.

"He is adorable! Look how he jumps around like a little kangaroo. Okay, yes, I would like to feed him."

Katie slid open a slot on the lid of the aquarium before opening the container with approximately a dozen live crickets crawling around inside it. She pinched one of the insects gently between her fingers, removed it from the container, and resealed the lid. She offered the squirming cricket to Taylor as her brother watched with a smile on his face. Taylor never hesitated when she took the cricket between two of her fingers and waited for further instructions.

"All you need to do is drop the cricket onto the sand," Katie told her. "Sinbad will do the rest."

Without hesitation, Taylor moved her hand over the open slot of the aquarium lid and released her hold on the cricket. It landed on the sand about five inches from the last place that Sinbad had hopped to.

The three watched patiently for the jerboa to become aware of the cricket and then silently observed the quick capture of the insect by Sinbad's mouth and the use of his tiny front paws to position the insect for eventual consumption. Within thirty seconds of catching the cricket, there was no evidence that it ever existed in the jerboa habitat. Sinbad only hopped around for a few more minutes before scurrying through one of the plastic tubes and into a burrow inside one of the other containers.

Taylor continued to watch the various aquariums and tunnels for a sight of Sinbad, while Tyler examined what he could see of Katie's condo. The walls were essentially bare, and there was a noticeable absence of anything that could be construed as 'personal' on display. Everything was extremely neat and tidy but somehow seemed utilitarian. He thought that another person could immediately occupy this condo and not bat an eye about the belongings that existed currently.

Katie observed Tyler's inspection of her home for several minutes before she returned the container of crickets to its storage place and led her guests to the dining room table where she had previously set a disposable electronic file tablet containing the lease application, credit inquiry, and background check forms. Taylor and Tyler took seats on one side of the table, so Katie chose a chair across from them.

Katie opened the file tablet and said, "You haven't asked about any deposits that will be required, so let me explain how we work those..."

"Deposits won't be an issue," Taylor said, once again interrupting her.

"Even so" Katie continued, "We will expect you to pay the first and last month's rent upon occupancy. Any cleaning or security deposit amount required will be determined once your credit and background checks are completed and reviewed."

"Our parents will pay whatever is required" repeated Taylor.

Katie closed the file tablet and said, "Then why don't you take these forms with you so your parents can review them as well? The lease agreement will be between all occupants of the unit and whoever is responsible for paying the rent if someone other than the occupants."

Taylor squeezed her brother's arm and said, "Does this mean that you'll rent us the condo?"

Katie stood and escorted them to the front door as she said, "If the unit is still available when you return with the completed forms and the background and credit checks are satisfactory, I will be happy to rent it to you at that time."

Tyler led his visibly elated sister out the front door, with the file tablet clasped tightly in her hand. Katie shook her head at the retreating figures, then closed and locked it. This hadn't been a totally wasted afternoon. Tyler Oglethorpe-Davis radiated handsomeness that seemed to linger long after he had left. Plus, there was something about the way his eyes studied her that intrigued Katie.

Chapter Two

Katie mentally kicked herself for leaving her daypack on the counter at her condo. It's not like spending fifteen dollars for a bottle of water would break her, but she prided herself on her organizational skills and always being prepared. As she waited in the concession stand line, she took some solace in knowing that a portion of her purchase would go to benefit the same charity that had her participating in this classic car show event at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

As she waited in line, she kept having what she had always only been able to describe as a 'mental tap on the shoulder'. She had always associated the sensing of another's presence as being related singularly to the bond that she had with her older brother, JR, but that had only happened when he was close by, and not half-way around the world as he was currently. So why was she sensing that a 'companion' was close by? She finally reached the front of the line and made her request.

"Please add that to my charges," said the man's voice behind her just as she was preparing to pay for her bottle of water.

Katie turned to the man, whose voice she didn't recognize, and immediately knew why it was foreign to her. The entire time that Tyler Oglethorpe-Davis had been in her presence yesterday, he had spoken only a few words.

"Thank you, Mr. Davis," said Katie as she accepted the bottle of water from the concession stand vendor and stepped aside to allow Tyler to approach the window.

She started walking away when he interrupted her, "Hang on a second."

Tyler moved away from the window after paying for Katie's water, but without ordering anything for himself. He quickly fell into step beside her.

She glanced over at him as she continued walking. Her senses remained alert, but comfortable rather than alarmed.

She asked, "Aren't you going to get anything for yourself?"

"Not right now. I was going to get something for my date, but she'll be fine for a few minutes more."

He pointed towards a crowd of people that were surrounding a pretty blonde woman who was holding court and politely signing autographs.

"That's Haley Simmons in case you don't recognize her. Her publicist convinced her that being seen at this charity event would be good for her image," Tyler informed Katie.

Katie knew that Haley Simmons was a popular actress and had been in several recent blockbuster movies only because she had seen her face on the cover of multiple magazines while checking out at the supermarket. She hadn't seen any of the movies herself.

She stopped in front of one of the classic vehicles on display and stared at her reflected image in Tyler's sunglasses, but didn't respond to his words.

Seeing that Katie was remaining silent, Tyler added, "I wanted to apologize to you for Taylor's overly aggressive questioning yesterday. This is her first major business transaction, and I'm afraid that she took it more seriously than someone with a little experience might have done. I also apologize that I wasn't more aware of her intentions so I could have coached her beforehand."

Katie leaned against the side of the classic pickup truck on display and said, "No harm done. Are you guys still interested in applying to rent the unit?"

Tyler smiled down at her. He hadn't appreciated how tall she was yesterday, but as he stood in front of her now, he realized that she was only a few inches shorter than his six-foot-two-inch height. She had a nerdy kind of cuteness about her, but there was also some indescribable energy radiating from around her that he hadn't noticed previously. She was wearing a light plaid shirt opened over a pale blue tank top and khaki cargo shorts. The tennis shoes they both wore wouldn't be adding much to their natural height, so they were on par there. Then why, he wondered, did her legs seem to go on forever?

"Sure," Tyler said. "Taylor is at home showing the forms to our parents this afternoon. She had most of it completed yesterday but just wants to verify a few of the items with them before returning it to you. I expect that she will be calling you this evening to discuss meeting up with you again. So, what brings you here? Are you interested in classic cars?"

Katie extended her arm in a gesture towards the pickup that she was leaning against and smiled, "This brings me here. I don't typically show it, but I do so when the cause being supported is important to me."

Tyler lowered his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose and examined the pickup truck. It was definitely a unique vehicle. He walked slowly around the truck, noting every detail as if he was one of the judges who would be awarding the show prizes shortly. He was only one of the several admirers who were checking out the truck.

"I recognize the Chevrolet emblem, but nothing else about this truck is familiar to me," said Tyler.

"I'm not surprised," Katie told him. "Only three hundred and sixty-nine of this particular model were produced, so it's pretty rare."

"What model is it?"

"It's a 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Loadside. It's one of the '95 Series', but this one was the top of the line because it has the larger 164 cubic inch engine that wasn't used in regular production until 1964, as well as the four-speed manual transmission instead of only three speeds."

"Speaking of the engine," Tyler said as he glanced into the cab, "Where is it located?"

Katie led him to the tailgate in the back and lowered it.

"The air-cooled horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine is located in the rear of the vehicle under the slightly raised cargo floor."

As several other onlookers jockeyed for position at the back of the truck, she opened a panel in the bed of the cargo area and displayed the spotless and gleaming engine compartment.

Tyler examined the engine for a few seconds before stepping back and navigated the growing crowd as he walked around the truck once again. He paused at the driver's door with the window rolled down and peered once more inside the cab.

"You own this?" he asked Katie.

Katie left the engine compartment open for the crowd to examine and then came to stand next to Tyler. She reached around his body and opened the driver's door.

"Since my sixteenth birthday," she said. "Of course, it took my dad and me more than two years to restore it."

"Is it all stock?"

"Climb on in," she told him.

Tyler climbed up onto the seat behind the steering wheel and gazed in admiration at the interior of the truck. Katie stood proudly beside him next to the open door.

"It is completely stock" she assured him. "From the bulbs in the turn signals to the Naugahyde used to upholster the seats. Well, the paint used on the body might not be the exact same chemical makeup as the original paint, but the sky-blue color is the same shade as the truck had when it rolled off the assembly line."

The crowd of people continued to grow around the truck as Tyler climbed out and Katie closed the door.

"I bet you'll do well in the judging today," Tyler told her. "The truck is in pristine condition and the judges are bound to give you points based upon the uniqueness of your entry."

Katie laughed softly and said, "I've never lost a show that I have entered. My biggest challenge is turning down all the offers to buy it, which is why I am very selective about where I do show it. Jay Leno came by earlier today and made another six-figure offer, even though I have turned him down at least five previous times."

Tyler heard her husky, yet musical laugh and knew that he had never heard another quite like it.

"I can understand that," he told her. "It probably holds a lot of sentimental value for you."

Katie's appreciation of Tyler's comment was interrupted by another voice.

"There you are!"

Tyler looked over Katie's shoulder to see Haley Simmons pushing herself through the crowd of people that continued to inspect the classic pickup truck. A small entourage of fans was still thrusting pieces of paper, car show programs or other items in her direction hoping to get an autograph. She finally reached Tyler and put her arm possessively around his waist before acknowledging Katie.

"Is this your truck? I heard several people talking about it. Is it true that Jay Leno wants to buy it?"

"Haley, I would like to introduce Katie Brandt. Katie, this is Haley Simmons. Katie may be my new landlord shortly," Tyler further explained.

He couldn't help but notice that Haley didn't present the same visual contrast that she normally did when next to another woman. Even with her perfectly styled hair and expertly applied make-up, she seemed significantly dimmer when in the presence of Katie Brandt, with her short, casual hair, her nerdy sunglasses, and her semi-masculine attire.

Haley merely nodded at Katie before turning her attention back to Tyler.

"Ty, the marketing director for Quiche Cosmetics is here at the show and wants to discuss an endorsement deal over drinks. Kristen is going to meet us at the bar in his hotel in an hour. I already have Gino bringing the car around for us, so we better head for the exit."

Tyler shook his head and said, "I really have no desire to sit in some hotel lobby for hours while you and your agent negotiate another deal. Have Gino drive you to the meeting and I'll make my own arrangements to get home."

Katie watched the lips on Haley's face turn to a forced pout and stepped away from the couple to focus on the crowd around her truck. She began answering a bevy of questions, most of which were repeats of ones asked seconds before by someone else that she had already answered. Answering redundant, repetitive and frequently ridiculous questions about her truck was another reason that she seldom endured car shows such as this.

However, she kept reminding herself that this event was benefitting a cause that she strongly believed in. Growing up near San Antonio where most military dogs were trained at Lackland Air Force Base, she had witnessed the heart-wrenching experience when a trained military dog was retired. Deemed too dangerous for adoption to the general public because of their specialized training, most of the dogs that were too old or trained in services incompatible for them to be retrained as a police K9 were typically euthanized. Retired police dogs often faced a similar fate unless they could be placed in a home prepared to deal with the unique training and personality that these dogs usually had.

Recently, a few organizations that trained service animals for people with certain physical challenges had been seeing great success with retraining retired police dogs. This event today was benefiting one of these organization's efforts, which is why Katie would stand in the hot sun and tolerate the questions being asked by the crowd for another - she checked the time - two hours.

"What time is the judging?"

Katie recognized his voice this time and turned to answer Tyler's question.

"The judges should have been walking around all day," she told him. "Their decision is due in about an hour. You're not going with your girlfriend to her meeting?"

Tyler shook his head and said, "Our families have known each other for years and we date occasionally, but Haley and I are not exclusive or anything. She can get by at the meeting with her agent Kristen and then home by herself just fine. I want to see more of the show and see some of the dogs being run through their training."

"I saw the Orange County Sheriff K9 team doing their demonstration earlier," Katie told him. "It was a hoot. Those officers obviously spend a lot of time with their dogs."

"Which reminds me of something that I wanted to ask you about the condo. Are pets allowed?"

Katie studied Tyler with a new interest, "Yes, as long as the pet meets the condo association restrictions. Why?"

"I may want to adopt a retiring police dog," Tyler told her. "Probably not today, but my agency occasionally offers one of the retiring dogs to an officer who is interested in adopting."

"Your agency?" Katie asked.

"I am a Special Agent with the California Department of Justice, Department of Law Enforcement" Tyler informed her.

Katie regarded him skeptically, "I've never heard of it."

Tyler removed a badge from a pouch on his belt and opened it for Katie to inspect. She had thought that the pouch probably held a cell phone, but upon closer inspection, she saw that it has larger than a typical cell phone pouch and realized that it was a tactical pouch and likely held a gun and a spare ammunition clip in addition to his badge.

When she brought her eyes back to his, he explained, "We're kind of like the FBI on a state level."

"So, you don't get involved in local crimes unless requested, that type of thing?"

"For the most part," Tyler comfirmed. "However, if there are obvious indications that criminal activities are crossing multiple jurisdictions within the state, we can get involved without anyone else requesting it. Or, if the state Attorney General assigns us."

Katie's cell phone began to ring. She removed it from the pocket in her shorts and checked the number. Holding up a finger to Tyler in a "just a minute" indication, she answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Katie, this is Taylor Oglethorpe Davis. I was wondering if you would be home this evening for me to bring the completed paperwork by."

Katie glanced over at Tyler before answering, "I will be home around six. Is that too late for you?"

"Not at all," Taylor said. "I will be there at six sharp and don't mind waiting for you. I am so relieved that the condo is still available. Does Tyler need to be with me, or will his signature on the paperwork be adequate?"

"As long as you have all the information and the signatures of all the parties, then you can simply bring the forms by yourself," Katie told her.

"Oh, that's great. Thanks, Katie. I'll see you around six."

Katie returned the cell phone to her pocket and said to Tyler, "Taylor is going to be bringing the forms by this evening."

"I figured," he said. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"What?"

"Well, two favors really. First, please be patient with Taylor. As I mentioned, this is her first major business transaction and she might still be more aggressive than she needs to be."

Katie smiled as she nodded in response to his request. It reminded her of the protectiveness that her own older brother had always demonstrated with her. Tyler Oglethorpe-Davis scores points on that one.

"No problem. What else?"

"Can you give me a lift back to your place when you go? Then Taylor could give me a ride home after she gives you the file tablet."

Katie stared at Tyler while considering his request. She knew that his being in law enforcement could potentially complicate things for her, but for some reason, she was beginning to like this guy, which surprised her. Intuition versus knowledge. Which should she trust?

"Be here at five when the show is over and I'll give you a ride" she finally said.

"Thanks," Tyler said with a broad smile. "I won't hold you up. Enjoy the rest of the show, and good luck."

Katie returned his smile and it remained on her face as she watched him walk through the crowd. She kept her eyes on his back, studying his casual stride until he was out of sight. The diminishing sense of companionship that she perceived while she watched Tyler walking away was intriguing to her.

Tyler ignored most of the cars that he passed on his walk through the car show. None of the other classic cars held much interest to him, especially compared to Katie's truck. He wondered how much of the restoration she had done herself and how much she had either paid someone else to do or had been done by her dad. He knew that his thoughts would be considered sexist, and he didn't know enough about her to assume that Katie wouldn't have the skills required to restore a classic vehicle. His experience with other women in his world so far had left him with no real-life examples of mechanically inclined females that he could relate to.

Taylor had mentioned on their drive home yesterday that she suspected that Katie was gay; based on her appearance and the deeper than normal tone of her voice. Maybe that would explain Katie being more mechanically inclined than other women he had known. He had noticed that she was taller than most women, her haircut was almost as short as his own, and she didn't appear to wear any make-up. However, from what little he had observed, Katie didn't seem to exhibit any overly masculine characteristics, but he also knew that this wasn't abnormal.

The last K9 demonstration was just finishing by the time Tyler got to it, so he decided to not even enter the venue and headed back to where Katie's truck was. He noticed that some of the cars that he had passed earlier now had trophies sitting on their hoods, so he knew that the judging had been completed. Most of the trophies were small 'participation' awards, but he did see a few larger trophies on some of the cars. The largest of the trophies sat in the tailgate of Katie's truck since it didn't have a hood.

"Congratulations," Tyler said as he joined Katie at the back of her truck. "Did you win first prize?"

Her smile was enough of an answer, but she added, "Yes, thank you. The judges said that they would bring me the box that the trophy came in so it doesn't get damaged riding here in back."

"You mentioned that you always win at these shows and I guess that you weren't kidding. Where do you keep all the trophies?"

Katie turned and sat on the tailgate and patted the spot next to her as an invitation for Tyler to join her.

After he had accepted the offer, she said, "The ones I have won since moving to California are stored in the garage at my condo. My parent's house in Texas is where most of my trophies still are."

"Besides car shows, what else have you won trophies for?" he asked.

"Oh geez," she groaned. "All sorts of things, but mostly sporting events like volleyball, track and field, swimming and the like. What interests do you have?"

Katie changed the subject to something other than trophies. Some of hers were for things that she didn't feel it wise to share with Tyler.

Tyler smiled over at Katie, scratched the short dark hair on his head as if trying to think of an answer, and then said, "I'm interested in a lot of things, but from the perspective of sports I prefer things that challenge me as an individual rather than team activities. I'll get into the occasional pick-up game of beach volleyball, but I would rather ride my bike, hike some trails, and go to the archery range, those sorts of things."

She returned his smile and said, "I'm not very competitive either. The only person I had to compete against while growing up was my cousin Cile, and we both instinctively always tried to make the other one better. It just seemed to come naturally to us."

"No brothers or sisters?" he asked.

"I obviously have a brother, since he's the one who gave me Sinbad, but he is eleven years older than me. We have always been close, but the difference in age meant that we seldom held the same interests at the same time. You and Taylor are closer, aren't you?"

"Slightly," he said. "There are seven years between us. Is any of your family in the area? You mentioned that you were raised in Texas, I believe? See, I don't forget everything."

His question was deflected for her by the teenage girl who approached them with an empty cardboard box.

"I was asked to bring this box to this space," she said to the couple, not sure who her comment should be directed at.

Katie hopped down off the tailgate first and said, "Thank you. I'll take it."

"This is your truck?" the girl asked as she stared in obvious appreciation.

"Yes" replied Katie. "First place winner that it is."

"Oh yeah, congratulations," the girl said as she walked around the truck and looked inside the cab.

"It's really restored nicely. Oh well, I need to get back. The show's over soon and I have some more deliveries to make. Bye."

Katie waved and turned her attention back to Tyler, "Mind helping me get the trophy into this box?"

Tyler hopped down off the tailgate.

"Sure. Do you want to hold the box while I slide it in or do you want to do the honors?"

"I'm already holding the box, so you can do the honors. Just don't drop that thing on my feet. It's heavier than I expected" she teased.

"Go ahead and set the box on the ground and just hold the flaps open for me," Tyler instructed as he lifted the trophy off the tailgate.

Katie followed his suggestion, kneeling beside the box and removing the top piece of molded composite material before positioning the flaps out of the way. Tyler slowly lowered the trophy into the box and turned it to align the base with the cut-out in the bottom piece of molded composite cushioning material. Once it was positioned, he took the piece of composite material from Katie's hand and positioned it on the top of the trophy.

Katie folded and interlocked the top flaps of the box and said, "Thanks. Now it can lie on its side back here while we drive. Are you ready to go?"

Tyler picked up the boxed trophy from the asphalt and set it on the tailgate. He then laid it on one side and let Katie push it far enough into the cargo bed to allow the tailgate to be closed.

"Looks like we're both ready," he told her.

He walked to the driver's door and held it open for her. She raised an eyebrow at him but didn't comment on his manners as she climbed into the driver's seat. Tyler closed her door before walking around and joining her by situating himself in the passenger seat.

Tyler glanced out the windshield, and then leaned forward and looked down at the ground in front of the truck.

"There's not much between us and space is there?" he said.

Katie laughed and said, "Not much. If it makes you feel better, there is a seat belt on your side. It is probably tucked down in the crease between the seat and back so you might have to search for it."

She fastened her seat belt while Tyler located his. She depressed the clutch and started the truck while waiting for him to get his belt fastened. Once she heard the sound of its two sides connecting, she released the parking brake, shifted into first gear, and slowly drove through the thinning crowd toward the exit.

~~~

They rode in silence until they had pulled into the alley behind the condos.

"Can you please press the remote for the garage door opener?" Katie asked Tyler. "It's in the glove box."

Tyler opened the glove box door and located the Bluetooth remote. He picked it up and pointed it out the windshield at the closed garage and pressed the button until he saw the door start to move.

"Do you want it back in the glove box?" he asked.

"Yes, please" Katie replied as she watched the garage door continue its rise.

Tyler replaced the remote in the glove box and closed it while Katie expertly backed the truck into the center of the two-car garage and turned the engine off. He looked out the back window of the truck and saw that there wouldn't be a gap big enough to open the tailgate.

"It would be easier to get the box out if we could lower the tailgate" he mentioned to Katie as they both opened their doors and climbed down to the garage floor.

"I know" she acknowledged, "But I'll need to find a spot on one of the shelves to store it, so it will be fine right there until I get around to it. If for some reason I need to use the truck before then, I'll just set the box on the floor over against the wall."

Tyler nodded and came around the truck to join Katie at the door leading into her kitchen. She unlocked the door before pushing the icon on the display panel that would close the garage door. Tyler followed her into the kitchen and closed the door to the garage behind them.

"How tall are you?" he asked.

Katie turned, slid her sunglasses onto the top of her head, replaced them with her tortoiseshell glasses, and glanced back at him with a mischievous grin on her face.

"My inseam is thirty-four inches," she replied.

Tyler removed his sunglasses too and grinned back at her, "I know what you're doing."

"Do you?" she asked as she leaned back against the counter next to the refrigerator. "What am I doing?"

"You're testing me. Both my knowledge of bike riding and my knowledge of body proportions. So, is the inseam of thirty-four inches your full physical measurement or your clothing measurement?"

She tilted her head and studied him for a few seconds as he leaned against the island across from her and said, "It's the full physical measurement. From heel to groin."

Tyler nodded and stared back at her for several seconds before saying, "If you are an average female, which I am reserving judgment on where you are concerned, then a thirty-four-inch inseam would make you between seventy and seventy-one inches tall, or around five-feet ten and a half inches. Am I close?"

"Not bad," she told him with a laugh. "And I trusted your knowledge of both bikes and body proportions. I was testing your ability to do simple math."

Tyler chuckled, and then walked into the living room and studied the habitat for Katie's jerboa once more. Sinbad was not visible, so he assumed that the animal was in one of the burrows. He glanced at each of the containers to see if he could detect where it was as Katie remained leaning against the kitchen counter watching him. She decided that he seemed much more relaxed in her condo today than he had been yesterday.

"Would you like some water or anything while we wait for Taylor?" she asked him.

With his back to her, she observed him more closely. He was taller than her, but not lanky or wiry like most taller men that she had known. His shoulders were broad, and she could see well-defined muscles through the polo shirt that was pulled tight across his back by it being tucked into his denim jeans. The label on the back of his Levi's was partially obscured from view by the belt he wore, but she had noticed earlier that his waist measurement was only thirty-three inches.

Tyler kept his attention on the jerboa habitat when he answered, "No thanks. You said that your brother got you your pet, but you didn't say where it came from."

Katie walked into the living room and stood near the sliding door that led to the patio. She opened the blinds and said, "I believe I did mention that jerboas are native to Asia and the Middle East, so I assumed that you would surmise that Sinbad came from one of those areas."

Chuckling at her response, Tyler turned to her and said, "Touché. What I meant was, did your brother buy it for you in a pet store someplace, did it have to be imported, or did he catch it in the wild? Taylor seemed fascinated by Sinbad so I thought I might consider getting her a jerboa too at some point. They look like they could make interesting pets."

"I don't know where he got Sinbad, and I never asked" Katie replied. "Do you want to feed him today? It's almost time."

"Actually," he said as he took a seat on her couch and crossed one leg over the knee of the other, "I think I would prefer to watch you feed him. I can watch his behavior better that way."

He could also watch her behavior better, he admitted to himself.

Katie considered him for a few seconds before quickly walking over to the main container and repeating the feeding process that she had shown Taylor yesterday. As soon as the sound of the aquarium lid was heard by the jerboa, it scampered out of a burrow in one of the other containers and raced to where it knew the meal would be provided. The cricket had hopped on the sand only twice after being dropped into the container before the jerboa pounced on it. Katie closed the lid on the aquarium and returned the cricket container before turning to Tyler.

He asked, "Do you see your brother often? I mean, does he live close by, or in Texas?"

Katie ignored the question and asked one of her own, "You said that your agency is like the FBI, only on the state level. Do you have profilers like the FBI and if so, are you one of them?"

He stared up at her unsmiling face and pondered the motivation for redirecting his question with one of her own.

"No, the Department of Law Enforcement does not have profilers. I know that is contrary to how some fictional television shows have depicted us, but we would utilize the profilers at the FBI if the need arose."

"But you yourself do have some knowledge or experience in behavioral science?" she asked him. "I can tell by how you have been studying me and other people we have encountered today."

He uncrossed his one leg, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees while maintaining eye contact with her piercing stare.

"I'm sorry if my subconscious tendencies have made you uncomfortable. It's not common for people to realize when they are being observed, and the fact that you did notice is in itself interesting to me. To answer your question, I do have a master's degree in behavioral science from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from the UCLA School of Law. I have always been a people watcher, but it's not as much to learn about them as it is for me to understand my own prejudices and misperceptions."

Katie moved to the chair across the coffee table from where Tyler sat. She took her time positioning herself into the chair and reclining it until the footrest was extended and she assumed a relaxed pose.

"Please explain" she prompted.

Seeing Katie acting more relaxed encouraged Tyler to also sit back once more on the couch. They looked at each other in silence for more than a minute before he spoke.

"Taylor told you that we come from a prominent family, which is true. My mother's side of the family traces their heritage all the way back to James Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia. My father's side of the family is descended from Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. It's lost on a lot of people that the irony of these two families joining is that James Oglethorpe petitioned Parliament to prohibit slavery in the colony of Georgia while Jefferson Davis fought to preserve the right of Southern states to maintain slavery."

Katie nodded for him to continue, but didn't speak.

"Anyway, I had a very sheltered and privileged upbringing as a child. I attended private schools, traveled in social circles that were deemed appropriate for our family's stature, and left for college as a very immature and naïve teenager. I realized that my perceptions of the world and all the people in it had been developed in a very safe and comfortable cocoon of sorts, and as a result, I was in danger of making a lot of bad decisions about whom to trust and who not to. I knew that this had to change if I planned to accomplish the things I wanted to in life. My objectives aren't to learn about another person, they're about me understanding why I form certain opinions of people. We can base our opinions on only facts or beliefs. I want to know when I am letting beliefs influenced by my upbringing to overshadow facts about a person. That's why I observe people."

Katie reflected on her childhood. She knew that she had been protected in many ways more than any child in the world who wasn't heir to some royal thrown, but that had been physical protection. She hadn't been sheltered from different people or cultures and had been held responsible for her judgments of others her whole life. It was hard for her to imagine the challenge that Tyler was describing to her.

"Please go on," she told him.

Tyler had never discussed the motivations behind his studying of people. It had always been somewhat embarrassing to him that he was raised the way that he had been. He saw genuine interest in Katie's ice-blue eyes as she waited for him to continue. There were no signs of disapproval or judgment evident from her expression, and he somehow felt confident that he could confide in her. Well, that belief was about to be tested.

"It is still a challenge for my perceptions of people to not be influenced by how I was raised and how little I knew of different cultures and societal norms. So, rather than merely accepting my perceptions, whether they are eventually proven correct or not, I test them through observation and study."

He took a breath and asked, "Does the offer of some water still stand?"

Katie smiled and remained seated as she said, "There's bottled water in the refrigerator. Help yourself."

She knew that she was playing with his admitted tendency to study people when she deviated from what he might be expecting of her. By not playing the polite hostess and serving him, she knew that he would have to do some reassessment of the opinion he was forming of her. She watched him smile at her in recognition of her challenge before he rose and retrieved two bottles of water from the refrigerator and brought one back to her before sitting back on the couch.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome. So, how do you know so much about behavioral science?"

"I have a cousin who teaches it at FLETC. We have discussed it extensively over family dinners." she teased. "Now, please continue."

Tyler was surprised at Katie's use of the acronym for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and realized immediately that he shouldn't have been. She was obviously knowledgeable in ways and about things that few people would ever suspect. He knew that he hadn't. Maybe he should test her for a change...

"Are you gay?" he asked as he settled back on the couch once more.

Katie didn't flinch or otherwise react. She just asked calmly, "That's pretty private, isn't it?"

"It's as private as you want it to be," said Tyler. "The reason I ask is that Taylor mentioned that she thought you were gay, and I have been trying not to let her perceptions influence mine. I haven't witnessed anything in your behavior that would confirm or deny the possibility. On the other hand, I have ascertained that you are either the most private person I have ever met, or you're hiding something that you don't want others to know. That could be the fact that you are gay and haven't 'come out of the closet' yet."

"Why would it matter to you?" she asked with genuine interest. That surprised her.

"It doesn't," admitted Tyler. "I told you of my observations only to help you understand why I have been paying so much attention to you and your behavior. It doesn't matter to me whether you're gay, straight, bisexual, or celibate. All that matters to me is learning from any mistaken perceptions I may have of a person so that I can adapt my experiences and try to be a better person."

Katie considered his response and said, "Well, I can confirm for you that I likely am the most private person that you have ever met, but it is not due to my sexual orientation, whatever that might be. I am not offended by your question or by your interest in my behavior, but I do hate seeing you waste your time by studying me. I will probably be the most frustrating subject you have encountered, if not the most challenging."

They sat watching each other for several minutes, alternating between studying each other's body language and trying to read what was in the other's eyes. The smiles that formed on their faces and which became evident in their eyes seemed contagious and neither seemed willing to break the connection. The sound of a text alert on Katie's phone was the distraction that they needed.

"That must be Taylor," she said as she removed her cell phone from her pocket and checked the display.

TAYLOR: Hi, this is Taylor. I am at the gate to the alley.

KATIE: I will send the code to open the gate. Park in the same place and I will meet you.

TAYLOR: Be right there.

She rose from her chair and asked, "Do you want to wait here or tag along to meet your sister?"

"She'll be surprised to see me in either case," he said as he rose along with her. "I'll tag along and get the surprise out of the way sooner rather than later."

"Okay then, let's cut through the back patio to save us all a few steps."

Katie unlocked the sliding glass door and led Tyler across her patio area to the back gate, which she also unlocked before opening it. The gate had just swung open when they saw Taylor parking her Amazon Mini Cooper convertible in the visitor spaces across the alley. Taylor didn't notice them walking towards her until she had swung her legs out of the car and stood to close the driver's door.

"Ty! I was wondering why you were ignoring my messages" she squealed as she smacked her flat palm against his chest. "How did you get here?" she asked, looking around for his car.

"I went to the car show with Haley. When she had to leave for a business meeting, Katie agreed to let me ride home with her so that you could give me a ride back to my place."

"You're such a brat that I should make you take an Uber back to your place. I still might so behave yourself while I meet with Katie to go over the paperwork for the rental."

"Yes ma'am," chuckled Tyler when he saw Katie grinning at the two sibling's playful bickering.

"Follow me," Katie said as she led them back through the patio and into her condo.

Once inside, she accepted the file tablet that Taylor was offering to her and sat on one side of the dining table, anticipating that Taylor and Tyler would assume the same positions as they had previously. She was correct in her assumption. She opened the tablet and briefly perused the forms it contained.

"Everything looks complete," she told Taylor. "I'll submit the background and credit check forms tomorrow morning and should have an answer for you by tomorrow evening. If everything is approved, when would you want to take occupancy of the unit?"

Taylor glanced anxiously over to Tyler and then began practically bouncing in her seat when she responded to Katie's question, "As soon as possible. I don't need to move in until August, but if we had the keys by July, we would be able to start getting furniture ordered and delivered in plenty of time."

Katie smiled at the excitement that Taylor was trying so hard to contain and said, "That shouldn't be a problem, this is only June 9^th."

Tyler looked at Taylor and said, "Let me know as soon as you find out so that I can give thirty-day notice. I could move in with you before the thirty days are up, but it would allow me to avoid paying another month's rent."

Tyler's reminder that he was intending to live in the condo across from hers along with his sister gave Katie pause. Although she had to admit to herself that she had been enjoying his company for these past few hours, she also had to consider his admitted objective of learning more about her. Her 'knowledge versus intuition' quandary was presenting itself again in all its blazing glory.

Katie rose from her seat at the table, followed by Tyler and Taylor. Tyler came around the table first and extended his hand for Katie to shake.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Brandt. Thanks again for the ride over."

Taylor stepped up beside him and shook Katie's hand as well, adding, "If you don't have plans for dinner, I would love to treat you and Tyler. Any place you would like to go is fine."

"Thank you both," Katie said, "But I'll need to take a rain check. I have a class in the morning that I need to prepare for."

"You're a student?" Taylor asked as she positioned the strap of her purse onto her shoulder.

Katie could have kicked herself for providing this opening with Tyler present. He pounced right onto it.

"She could be the teacher," he told Taylor.

Taylor looked at Katie with a questioning expression that she knew couldn't be ignored.

"I am in the doctoral program at UCI. I am in the final stages of obtaining my doctorate in molecular biology."

"Impressive," said Tyler as his sister nodded beside him.

Katie knew that she would impress them both more if she revealed that this would be her second doctorate. She already had her DVM from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She was tempted to mention this but restrained herself at the last minute. Tyler would have to be dealt with on a 'need-to-know' basis.

"Thanks. Well, you two should probably be heading towards your dinners," Katie said as she slid open the patio door. "You can cut through my patio. It's a bit shorter for you that way."

Tyler recognized the dismissal for what it was and winked at Katie as he followed Taylor out onto the patio. He turned back towards her gate before climbing into the passenger seat of Taylor's car and saw Katie standing at the gate watching him. She had her arms crossed across her chest but raised one to return the wave that he gave her.

Katie remained at the gate, watching Taylor's car back out of its space and head toward the exit. She didn't close the gate and return to her condo until she saw them pass through the gate at the street.

Chapter Three

Katie was approaching her patio gate on her bike when she saw Taylor stomping around her garage and yelling at her car.

Taylor and her brother had moved into their condo on the first of August, and while Katie had been able to avoid Tyler due to his work schedule, Taylor was another story.

Stopping in front of the next-door garage, Katie stared at Taylor until her presence was noticed.

"Having problems with your car?" Katie asked.

"Ugh!" screamed Taylor in exasperation. "The battery is dead again. I just had it replaced yesterday because it kept going dead and now the new one is doing the same thing."

"Give me a second to put my bike away, and then I'll bring my truck over and jump your battery for you."

"Thanks, Katie that would be wonderful of you."

Taylor leaned against the trunk of her car and texted the friend that she was going to go shopping with to let her know that she would be delayed. She had time to check a few other messages before she heard Katie's garage door opening. Katie came out and walked over to Taylor's garage.

"Since your battery is in the front of your car, let's push it out into the alley so that I can get to it easier. You jump into the driver's seat, then put the car in neutral and release the parking brake. I'll push you out while you steer."

"Okay," Taylor said as she quickly placed her cell phone into her purse and climbed behind the wheel of her car.

The car was small and light, so Katie had no difficulty getting it rolling, using very little effort in her push. She directed Taylor to stop her car as soon as the front of the hood had cleared the garage.

"Do you know where the hood release is inside the car?" Katie asked.

She heard the release of the hood as Taylor's response and found the catch that would allow her to release and raise the hood completely. Placing the support arm for the hood into place, Katie did a quick inspection of the engine compartment to locate the battery before walking over to where Taylor still sat in the driver's seat.

"Okay, hang tight and I'll get my truck into position to jump you."

Katie returned to her garage and started the engine on her truck. All she had to do was put the vehicle into neutral and release the parking brake for the slight incline of her garage to allow the truck to start rolling on its own. Once she saw that the tailgate had cleared the garage, she stopped and turned the truck off.

Climbing out of the truck, Katie returned to her garage and came out with a set of jumper cables. She opened the tailgate of the truck, followed by the lid to the engine compartment. Taylor couldn't see what Katie was doing, but she recognized that Katie appeared to be quite confident in her actions. After only a few seconds, Taylor saw Katie pulling one side of the jumper cables towards her car and preparing to attach them to her battery.

"I'll start the truck first," Katie instructed. "Once you hear it running, give it just a few seconds, and then try starting yours."

Taylor simply nodded and waited for Katie. When she heard the truck engine start, she counted to five and then tried starting her car. The engine started immediately, so Taylor sat and let it idle while Katie jumped out of her truck and came back to remove the jumper cables.

"Let it run for a few minutes while I put my truck away," Katie told her. "Then we'll see if we can find out why it keeps going dead on you."

Taylor nodded in response but wasn't sure what Katie meant. Taylor assumed that she was going to have to take her car into the dealership this afternoon to have them identify the short circuit or whatever was causing the problem. What could Katie do about her problem that she hadn't already done by getting the car started? She waited patiently for Katie to return so that she could find out.

When Katie returned, Taylor noticed that she had removed the button-up shirt that she had been wearing and now just wore a tank top tucked into her denim shorts. Her exposed upper arms and shoulders were muscular but feminine and the tightness of the tucked-in tank top made her firm abdomen obvious as she slid into the passenger seat.

"Okay," Katie said, "you said that you just replaced the battery, and I checked the cables when I connected the jumper cables. They were tight and in good shape, so there must be something in the car that is draining the battery. Have you had any work done on it lately or installed any new accessories?"

Taylor thought for only a second before responding, "I haven't had any work done on it since the last oil change a couple of months ago. The only new thing is that dashcam that Tyler installed for me last weekend."

Katie examined the dash camera mounted under the rearview mirror and inspected the cable from it that was routed along the top of the windshield, down the passenger side molding, and disappeared under the dash. She slid out of the seat, kneeling on the concrete outside the car so that she could angle her head to see under the dash. She ran her left hand along the cable from the dashcam to follow its path until she located its connecting point.

Pulling her cell phone out of a pocket of her shorts, Katie used the flashlight app to illuminate the underside of the dash and where the cable was connected.

"Ah," she said. "There's your problem..."

"What?" asked Taylor.

"The dash camera's power line is connected to an always-hot line in your car instead of one of the accessory power lines."

"What's that mean?" asked Taylor.

"It means that the camera draws power from the battery even when the car is turned off. It should be connected to a line that supplies power only when the car is on and running" Katie explained as she returned to sit in the seat beside Taylor.

"Have you ever turned on your headlights when the car was not running? They should come on because the switch is connected to an always live power line. However, if you turn on your radio when the car is off it won't come on because it is connected to an accessory power line that requires the car to be on for it to get power. The camera is connected wrong, which is why it keeps draining your battery."

"So, in other words, Tyler broke my car?"

Katie laughed and said, "That's one way of putting it, but it's an honest mistake and I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose. Let me get some wire cutters and electrical tape out of my garage. I'll fix it for you in just a few minutes."

"Do you want me to turn the car off?"

"That won't be necessary," Katie assured her. "Best to leave it run for a while to get the battery recharged. I'll be right back."

Katie slid out of the car and returned to her garage. She was only gone a few minutes when she returned carrying a lantern-style flashlight. She set the flashlight on the passenger side floorboard of Taylor's car, then removed a set of wire cutters and a roll of electrical tape from the pockets of her shorts and set these onto the passenger seat.

"How do you like this little car?" Katie asked as she knelt on the concrete beside the car once more.

"It's okay," Taylor said as she watched Katie begin to trace the cable under the dash. "It's not as much fun as I thought it would be when I talked my dad into buying it for me, and it can be pretty scary driving it around all the SUVs and trucks, especially on the freeway. I wanted a convertible, but I wish now that I had gotten something larger."

Katie had her head under the dash when she replied, "I can understand that. I know that it would make me feel uncomfortable to drive around in something this small."

She raised her head from under the dash and said, "There you go. It's all fixed. You shouldn't have any more problems with your battery."

"That fast?" Taylor asked in amazement.

"Sure, it was an easy fix once I found the problem," Katie told her.

She picked up the flashlight and turned it off as she stood. The wire cutters and tape were placed into her pockets again, and then she closed the passenger door.

"You're good to go, but let me know if you have any further problems with it."

"Thank you so much, Katie," Taylor said. "Will you be home later?"

"I should be home the rest of the day," Katie told her. "But you shouldn't have any more problems..."

Taylor nodded and backed her car out far enough to close the garage door. Once it had finished closing, she waved to Katie and drove away. Katie smiled at the tiny back end of her neighbor's car and then walked into her own garage and closed the door from the inside.

~~~

"The man wants us all on a video conference call immediately. Do you want to join from your own computer or join Claire and me at the huddle table?"

Tyler looked up at his colleague Dennis Stevens and asked, "What's it about? I haven't received any invites from the AG."

Dennis had turned to walk away but paused to answer Tyler's question, "All I know is that he sent me a text a minute ago saying that he wants to speak to our team as soon as we can get the video conference connected. I assume he has something that he wants us all to hear."

"What about Clement or Troung?" asked Tyler, referring to the Director for the Department of Law Enforcement, Michael Clement and their regional supervisor, Morris Troung.

"Come on, you know that Alfaro doesn't respect a chain of command, especially one that he is at the top of," said Dennis.

Tyler locked his computer before standing and said, "Okay, I'll listen in with you and Claire. Let's go."

Dennis Stevens and Claire Maxwell were the two other agents working out of the Santa Ana office for the Department of Law Enforcement. It wasn't a dedicated office, but merely a few cubicles and a circular table that they could use for collaboration, situated in the division office for the California Highway Patrol. Tyler had requested to work out of this office instead of his previous one in Los Angeles once he and Taylor had rented the condo in Irvine.

When Dennis and Tyler reached the small round table, Claire already had her laptop sitting on it and was preparing to connect with the Attorney General for the State of California in his Sacramento offices. She pushed the laptop as far across the table as it would go so that the camera on it would hopefully capture the images of all three agents as they clustered together in front of it. The face of the AG appeared and as was his custom, he wasted no time on pleasantries.

"You're all familiar with the Shoreline Mall case, right?" the AG asked.

He was a handsome Latino politician that made no secret of his ambitions to run for governor in the 2030 election. Julio Cortez-Alfaro had been brought to the United States as a child by his illegal immigrant parents. While his parents held a constant fear of deportation if discovered by U.S. Immigration officials, Julio was safe under the "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" program enacted by President Obama in 2012. Leveraging the benefits afforded him under the DACA protection, Julio received a free college education and preferential admission to the University of California Berkley School of Law.

After only one year with the Santa Clara County Public Defender's office, with no time spent in a courtroom, Julio ran for and was elected to the State Assembly, where his first attempt at legislation was a "Universal Suffrage" bill that granted voting rights in the State of California to any resident, regardless of their citizenship status. Since Julio was able to hold public office in the State of California without being a United States citizen, other immigrants, legal and illegal, viewed him as a champion for them against the immigration policies of the federal government.

Julio used his popularity in the immigrant and ultra-liberal Bay Area counties to get a proposition onto the 2024 ballot that would have made Spanish the official language for the State of California. While the proposition passed by a narrow majority and was subsequently upheld as constitutional by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth District, the Federal Election Commission refused to accept the election results from California for all of the Congressional representatives, the Senatorial results, and of course, the Presidential results, which threw the entire country into political chaos.

The U.S. Supreme Court quickly and decisively overturned the Ninth District Court, affirming that California's Universal Suffrage law applied only to local and state elections but violated federal election laws that require U.S. citizenship for a person to be eligible to vote in any election with federal candidates included on the ballot. Without the non-citizen votes being allowed in the required subsequent special election, the proposition was easily defeated. Julio had been at odds with the federal government ever since.

"Yes sir," the three said in unison, knowing that feigning ignorance of the most publicized shooting in recent history could have only been successful if a person had been on a deserted island for the last seven months. Not a week went by before one local news station or another would resuscitate the file footage of the mysterious woman who had prevented who knows how many deaths and injuries by taking down the shooter before he had the opportunity to do more than break a glass wall at the Shoreline Mall.

"The Orange County Sheriff's office is making no progress in identifying the mystery woman," the AG told them. "After more than six months, the public is naturally getting impatient. So, I am going to assign you three to move the investigation forward."

"What specifically would you like us to do?" asked Claire Maxwell.

She was the most senior of the three agents and the two men had no problem deferring the communications between their team and the AG to her.

"I want you to identify, locate and arrest the woman who fired the fatal shots," the AG explained as if speaking to a child.

"All this nonsense from the gun lobby about how this incident validates their claims that a citizen being armed is what prevented a tragedy needs to be countered. I want this woman tried for murder and we'll let a jury of her peers decide if this type of vigilante justice has any place in our fine State."

The three agents calmly listened to the political pandering speech that the AG was testing out on them. Each of them had discussed the shooting amongst themselves, and while the two men had felt that the woman was justified to take the shooter down that fateful afternoon, Claire hadn't shared their praise for the woman or what she had done.

Claire spoke for the team once more, "Do you have a contact for us with the Sheriff's office?"

"No," replied the AG. "Just get in contact with the Sheriff himself and tell him that I sent you to take over the case. He can call me if he has any questions."

Tyler knew that his thoughts about those directions were shared with his co-workers. The AG was setting them up for the initial confrontation with another law enforcement agency rather than making the first contact directly with the Sheriff and paving a smoother path for them to assume authority over the case. They would get it done, but the AG could have made it easier for them.

"I have arranged for all the video feeds of the incident to be shared with you. Here is the link for you to view them."

A network drive path appeared in a text message below the video conference screen on Claire's computer.

The AG continued, "I'll expect daily updates via e-mail and a weekly progress report via video conference. My assistant will set it up on my calendar and let you know which day and time. Any questions?"

"No sir," said Claire. "Not at this time."

"Good. Make me proud team."

They watched together as the video conference ended with the disconnection of the signal from the Attorney General. Claire closed the application and clicked on the link for the videos. There were only two files.

"There's not much there. I wonder if there is anything that hasn't already been shown on the nightly news," said Dennis as they waited for the first video to start. Claire and Tyler just waited to see for themselves.

The first video cued up was one of the parking lot cameras at the mall. This black and white video had been shown enough times on the various news outlets for the three agents to focus on the relevant content and ignore other activities.

They watched as the mystery woman climbed into a light-colored convertible sports car. As they watched the car back out of the parking space and drive away, the license plates never came into the image, nor was there a clear image of the woman's face. What they could see was the presence of other cameras that were mounted on light poles all around the huge parking lot.

"My first question is, what happened to the video recordings from all the other cameras?" said Dennis.

"I'll add a question about what inquiries have been made to identify the make and model of the car," said Tyler. "It looks like a classic, and possibly expensive if the style and dress of the woman are any indication. The more classic the car is, the fewer of them will be on the road, so we might be able to find it even without the plates being visible?"

Claire made a note of the questions and cued up the second video. When it began the agents again recognized it from the news broadcasts as the recording from the camera in the food court that faced the exit doors. They watched the grainy color image as the mystery woman walked into view, passing through the food court and heading to the corridor that led to the restrooms. It was a little more than five minutes later when they saw the man carrying the duffel bag walk into the scene.

"I was always amazed that no one else noticed this guy," said Claire. "His truck was parked clear on the other side of the mall, and it is assumed that he used the entrance on that side to come in. That means that he walked past probably a hundred or more people before even reaching the food court, then past dozens more in there."

"There she is," said Tyler.

They all studied the corridor and saw the feet of a woman wearing high heel shoes just coming out of the shadows when they stopped. By the angle of her feet, she remained facing forward, but she shifted closer to the wall on her left, apparently watching the man with the duffel bag. The video would require some light enhancements for them to be able to judge what her hands were doing and to possibly get a view of her face, which both remained in the shadows. Claire set the playback to half speed so that things from here on would move slower.

"The fact that she noticed him when no one else did could tell us something about her," Tyler said. "She might have had active shooter training or something like that which helped her recognize a threat that everyone else either missed or ignored."

"She could be in law enforcement," said Dennis.

"Then why leave the scene and remain hidden all this time?" asked Tyler.

Claire made note of the observation and said, "Based upon her clothing and the style of her car, if she is in law enforcement, she is probably on the take. That might explain why she hasn't come forward."

They all continued to watch the recording. They saw the gunman raise the shotgun and were so focused on that action that they missed the woman stepping out of the shadows and positioning herself closer to the end of the corridor.

"Wait!" Tyler said. "Back it up a bit."

Claire backed the recording up until the man was still kneeling next to the duffel bag before starting it forward again at half speed. All three of them focused on the woman instead of the gunman this time. Tyler focused his attention on her face and ignored everything else that was happening.

The woman had pulled her sunglasses from the top of her head, where they had been visible when she had first entered the corridor. Was this a deliberate attempt to hide her eyes and other features or did she intend them to serve as safety glasses for when she was firing her gun?

Her marksmanship skills had convinced everyone who saw the video to acknowledge that she knew how to shoot, and shoot well. This would imply that she had spent considerable time practicing, and consequently, she would have been accustomed to wearing eye protection when firing her gun.

They watched the woman with her right hand in her purse extract it with an automatic pistol and methodically bend her knees slightly as she shifted her weight in fluid motions at the same time. While viewed in half-speed, her movements still appeared quick, synchronized and practiced.

The three shots that she fired caused the gun to rise slightly as each was discharged, but the gun immediately returned to her aimed position, again in apparently practiced perfection.

"Here's another question," Dennis said. "Why not a headshot? She obviously knew how to shoot, and the head would have been a surer kill target than the groin."

"It's not obvious from this perspective," said Claire as she noted the question in her notes, "But there might have been something she saw that made a headshot less attractive to her. We'll need to make a visit to the mall and try to simulate what she may have seen."

"Watch," said Tyler.

They all continued watching as the man fell to his knees and the woman approached him with her gun still held in a firing position until she reached him and determined that he wasn't any longer a threat.

"Why didn't she finish him off right then?" Dennis asked. "One shot to the head here and there is no need to disarm him further."

Once the man had fallen over onto his side, essentially the moment of his death, the woman slipped her gun back into her purse and strode out of the mall.

"She knew that there was at least one camera and where it was located," Claire stated. "That's why she didn't turn back to check on the condition of the people in the mall and kept her back to the camera the whole time except when she was shooting."

"Back up to that point where the side of her face is visible and pause it," Tyler requested.

Claire did as Tyler requested, and then zoomed in the image to focus on what little could be seen of the woman's face and head.

"Any guess on age?" Claire asked.

"Early to mid-twenties would be my first guess, but that is based upon factors besides her face," said Dennis.

"For example, the hairstyle, clothing fashion, body movements and the sports car, when combined would typically indicate someone under thirty-five years old. I would guess that she is single since no ring is visible on her ring finger, and further assume that she doesn't have children for many of these same reasons."

"All of which are logical assumptions," Tyler said, "but we can't tie ourselves to any of them yet. She is naturally taller than average and for a woman that tall to deliberately increase her height further isn't normal. It might indicate someone who is extremely confident in her appearance and physical presence. Her movements indicate someone who is likely athletic, but not overly so. She might be a dancer; an opinion based both on her height and her athleticism. Her clothing is fashionable and fits her well, but isn't pretentious or inappropriate for her environment. Her hairstyle is simple yet also stylish. Notice how there are long tendrils of hair hanging loose from the rest that is captured in the clip at the back. What are those things called? Barrettes?"

"Yes," said Claire. "It looks like it is made out of metal, maybe silver."

"Hell," Tyler said, "she could even be wearing a wig."

Dennis said, "My first question needs to be directed here as well. Why didn't any of the other cameras in the mall capture any video during this time? She had to have been somewhere else in the mall to have to pass the food court to get to the corridor. Why no other video recordings of her?"

Claire shut off the recording and downloaded it to her laptop from the shared drive before she turned to her co-workers.

"How do you guys want to handle this?"

Dennis spoke first, "I think we need to know more about what might not be in the videos before we go to see the Sheriff. Right now, they could stonewall us and we'd never know it. I suggest that we take a field trip to the mall first and then decide how we want to play it when we go to the Sheriff's office."

"I agree with that strategy," said Tyler. "Plus speaking to people at the mall who might have already given statements to the Sheriff's investigators will better prepare us to know what stones might have been left unturned."

Claire checked her watch. "I'll send a copy of the videos to each of your cell phones so we can review it while on site. Let's all drive our own cars and meet up at the food court at two. We can go our separate directions from there."

The three agents returned to their respective work areas to gather their belongings before heading to their cars for the drive to Shoreline Mall.

~~~

"We were hacked," said Jerry Caswell, head of security at Shoreline Mall.

"What do you mean by 'hacked'?" asked Dennis.

His tone of disbelief was mirrored in the expressions on the faces of his partners. They were all sitting in a small room across from Jerry's office at the mall where a wall of monitors displayed the camera feeds from around the mall and its parking lot.

"Just what I said," Jerry told them. "It happened about two hours after the shooting. The tech from the Sheriff's office had just begun to download all of the video files from our server when a message popped up on all the screens at once claiming that some group had encrypted our files and was demanding ten thousand dollars in cryptocurrency ransom in order for us to be given the key that would release them."

"The tech couldn't break the encryption?" asked Claire.

"No. He tried for several hours and even brought in some experts from Cal Poly Pomona. Finally, the Sheriff himself authorized payment of the ransom and we got the key to unlock the files. Everything was there except for the surveillance videos. Those had all been deleted from the server by the time we regained access."

"Let me get this straight," Claire said as she made copious notes on her laptop. "All the encrypted files were recovered except for the security video files?"

They were recording the interview, but Claire had the old-school habit of documenting everything. She insisted that writing things down instead of simply hearing or seeing them helped with memory retention.

"That's what happened," Jerry confirmed. "The Sheriff's tech said it might have had something to do with the compression process used to store the videos. Apparently, the files already get encrypted by the application when it compresses them, and they theorize that the encryption used by the hackers 'encrypted the encryption' to the point that the files couldn't be recovered."

"Hold on," said Tyler. "Were the files there but not recoverable, or were the files deleted? There's an important difference."

Jerry thought for a few seconds, and then said, "The files were deleted."

"Did the Sheriff's technician have an explanation for that?" asked Tyler.

"If he did, he didn't share it with me," said Jerry.

"Okay, let's move on," said Dennis. "Did employees of any of the stores in the mall remember the woman? Did she buy anything that anyone remembers?"

"Only one of the clerks at Tiffany's remembers the woman," Jerry said.

"Tiffany's?" asked Claire. "The high-end jewelry store?"

Jerry just nodded.

"Did she buy anything?" asked Tyler.

"She paid cash for a diamond solitaire pendant, a one-carat round diamond set in eighteen-carat gold. The diamond suspends from an eighteen-inch gold cable chain. Fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars and some change. She paid cash for it and put it into her purse. She refused to even have it wrapped, although she had told the clerk it was a gift."

"But she didn't mention who the gift was for, right?" asked Claire.

Jerry nodded once more, "Not that the clerk remembers. No. She may have told the Sheriff's investigators more when I wasn't around. I know that they had her come to the station to look at the video to confirm that this was the same woman. I'm sure that they asked her more questions as a follow-up. I would have."

"Do you have her name?" asked Claire.

Jerry provided it for her to enter into her notes, even spelling the last name to make certain that Claire had it correctly noted.

Dennis waited for Claire to finish entering the name before asking Jerry, "On another subject, how come none of your team noticed the gunman walking through the mall? Even if he didn't pass any of the guards patrolling the mall, someone monitoring the surveillance cameras should have noticed him, shouldn't they?"

"We were short-staffed that day. There was no backup for the person on the monitors, so when he went on break, there was no one covering for him," Jerry explained.

His face had reddened in obvious embarrassment over his personnel issues becoming so public.

The three agents looked at each other but didn't comment on this revelation.

"How long did it take someone from your team to respond?" asked Tyler.

"We are an unarmed team, so our initial response was limited," Jerry explained. "One of my team was on the Mezzanine level, patrolling about 50 yards from where the first shot broke the glass wall. He ran towards the scene while radioing an alert to the rest of the team. From what I was told, the 911 call from our team was the fifth one received. Our man on the Mezzanine heard the three shots that took down the gunman but didn't see them. He crawled over to the edge until he could see down onto the food court and reported to us that the shooter was down."

"Did he see the woman?" asked Tyler.

"No, she had already exited to the parking lot by then. We focused on rendering first aid to the people injured on the Mezzanine level and let the arriving deputies deal with the shooter. The first deputies were on site within three minutes from what I understand. She must have driven right past them."

Tyler was thinking the same thing, but he couldn't fault the responding deputies for not noticing more than they had. Their priority would have been getting to the scene where a reported active shooter was, as far as they knew, still a threat. They would have been correct in ignoring any vehicles exiting the mall.

"Let's go take a look at the scene," Dennis suggested.

They followed Jerry as he led them through the mall. As they passed Tiffany's, Tyler made note of its location for his planned return as well as to start getting a feel for how far it was from the food court, and then the corridor where the mystery woman had stood in the video.

Business in the mall appeared normal, if only a bit slower on this summer weekday afternoon compared to what it had been on that Saturday more than seven months ago. The group of agents followed Jerry Caswell as he skirted the most crowded sections of the food court and led them toward the relevant corridor.

"I wonder if the fact that she decided to use the restroom before leaving the mall is an indication that the distance to her home or her next destination was far enough away that she didn't want to wait," said Dennis as he glanced over at Claire.

"I know what you're thinking," Claire responded. "She could have had an urgent call of nature and she might have felt it would be safer to take care of her needs before undertaking a long drive. Then again, she might have been on her period, or it could have been simply to freshen up her makeup or something. We just don't know."

"We can assume that she was done with her business in the mall, though," said Tyler.

"There is another restroom closer to Tiffany's, but in the opposite direction. If she had intended to stay and do more shopping, the only reason she had to walk all the way to this one was that it is on the way to the exit. What motivated her to go into the restroom isn't that important in the grand scheme of things."

When they reached the corridor, the group stopped and took turns standing in a spot as close as they could recall that the woman had been in when she had fired her three shots. Tyler pulled his cell phone out and paused the video in the correct spot just as the woman had raised her gun to fire. He checked the video and then turned his vision toward where the gunman would have been standing.

"I think I know why she chose not to take a headshot," he told his partners. "Take a look."

He passed his cell phone to Claire and then Dennis as they took turns standing in the same spot.

"The mirror in that nail salon is blinding," Dennis finally said. "Is the reflection of the sunlight outside always that bright here or does it vary by time of day or season?"

Jerry stepped over to the spot and checked out the view that the agents had noticed. He simply shrugged his shoulders and said, "I couldn't tell you. I know that none of the Sheriff's investigators mentioned it or asked about it."

"It's something that their Crime Scene Unit should have noticed," said Tyler as he watched Claire making a note of it. "If they didn't, there's a physics professor at UCLA that I know who could probably make the determination using the angle of the sun on the specific date and at the specific time."

"We'll keep him in reserve," said Claire. She stood back in the spot and stared out at the location where the gunman would have been standing.

She continued, "Regardless, it would have been a tough shot at this distance, but her grouping would have all hit his head if she had chosen to use it as her target instead of his groin."

"There was never any mention in the news reports about the ballistics," said Dennis. He turned to Jerry and asked, "Do you know if they determined what type of gun was used? From the video, it is too hard to tell anything other than it was a semi-automatic."

"I was standing right over there when they bagged the bullet casings from her gun," Jerry told them. "I heard one of them say that they looked like 380 ACP's.

"A semi-automatic that chambers a 380 ACP in her purse," said Tyler. "The barrel on that gun must not have been longer than three or four inches. If so, that makes her grouping of shots from this distance even more unusual."

He pointed back to the nail salon across the mall and said, "There didn't appear to be any hesitance on her part once she decided to shoot. She knew that there were innocent civilians in that nail salon who would have been behind the gunman from this perspective. That didn't prevent her from firing, which means that she was likely very confident in her aim, and rightfully so it appears. Although at this distance, the penetration power of a 380 ACP didn't pose much risk of going beyond her target."

"What chances do you think there are that they found any fingerprints on the casings?" Dennis asked.

Claire shook her head and said, "Slim to none I would say. I'm getting a sense that this lady has years of experience handling guns. I would be surprised if she had a concealed carry permit or military background since both would require fingerprinting and she wouldn't have left the casings if she feared being identified from them. Although, if she is anything like me, she would wear rubber gloves when loading her gun to prevent any oil or powder residue from getting on her fingers and then being transferred to her clothes. Most women who own guns learn to develop that habit early. Thus, she could have either the concealed carry permit and or the military background, so we can't dismiss those possibilities."

Tyler checked the time and said, "Well, it's already after four. Why don't I try and schedule a meeting with the Sheriff for tomorrow morning and then text you both with the details? It's a Saturday, but maybe he'll see us."

"That works for me," said Dennis, and Claire nodded her agreement. She then asked Jerry one more question.

"Do you know if anyone was able to provide a better description of the woman or her car once she had left the mall itself?"

"The only thing I heard from one of my parking lot patrol guys is that the car in the video looks like it could have been the classic silver Chevrolet Corvette convertible that he noticed on one of his trips around this section of the lot. He is a fan of that model car and spent some time while on his patrol admiring this one because it is supposed to be special for some reason."

This got Tyler's interest, "Special how?"

"I don't know," admitted Jerry. "He'll be on duty this weekend if you want me to ask him."

Tyler gave Jerry one of his business cards and said, "How about if you call me when he comes in for work and I'll stop by and ask him?"

"No problem," said Jerry. "You folks need anything else?"

Claire answered for the team, "No, and thanks for your cooperation."

Jerry walked off towards his office and soon disappeared from view across the food court. The three agents walked together towards the exit to the parking lot and their waiting cars.

"I'm heading back to the office," Dennis told them. "I want to get in touch with our ballistics team in Sacramento and see what they can tell me about 380 ACP semi-automatics before we hear what the Sheriff's team found."

Clair nodded her agreement and said, "I'm going to go back and talk to the clerks at Tiffany's to see if they can show me an example of the diamond pendant that the woman purchased. Its style might help determine who it could have been intended for as a gift."

"I'll contact the Sheriff on my way home," said Tyler. "There's also some research I want to do on the car."

While the other two agents went their separate ways, Tyler climbed into his Mustang and headed back to the condo he shared with his sister. He used his hands-free Bluetooth to call the Sheriff's office and got through to the Sheriff's administrative assistant with only a minimum delay.

It wasn't uncommon for the Department of Law Enforcement agents to meet with other agencies, but for the meeting request to be with the Sheriff himself on a Saturday was. However, the assistant dutifully checked her boss' calendar and scheduled a meeting for Tyler and his partners at ten on Saturday morning.

Tyler wished that he had a phone number for Katie Brandt so he could call and see if she was going to be home. He was hoping that with her experience in classic cars that she might be able to assist him with identifying the car that the mystery woman had been driving. If the security guard who saw it was correct, and it had been a classic Chevrolet Corvette, he felt that he had a better than average chance that Katie might be able to help him identify it.

He pulled into the numbered parking space for their condo rather than into the garage because he knew that Taylor wasn't home and he also knew that to park in the garage before she had parked her car was nothing but an invitation for her to put a dent in one or both of their cars. He locked his car and walked the long way around to the front door, but instead of turning left and going to his door, he turned right and pushed the doorbell for Katie's condo.

"Hello, Tyler," came the disembodied voice of Katie Brandt through the doorbell. "What can I do for you?"

Tyler hadn't noticed that Katie had a video doorbell, but he noticed it now, "Hi Katie. I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something if you have a minute."

"I'm sorry, Tyler, but I'm not home right now."

Tyler checked the time and asked, "What time do you think you will be home? I can come back?"

"I would prefer for the time of my return not to be discussed over the doorbell. We don't know who else might hear it. Feel free to call me on my cell phone and we can talk that way."

"I don't have your number. Can you give it to me?"

There was a pause before Katie said, "Once again, Tyler, we don't know who else might be within earshot, so why don't you just ask Taylor for my number and then you will have it too."

"I'll do that," Tyler said. "I'll call you soon."

He didn't wait for a response but turned and entered his condo. Once he was in the living room, he texted his sister.

TYLER: Can you text me Katie's cell phone number?

TAYLOR: What do you need it for?

Tyler smiled at his sister's reply. She had been so proud of successfully renting this condo that she took ownership of everything involved in the relationship between them and Katie. She probably was thinking that Tyler wanted to discuss something related to the condo instead of letting her do it.

TYLER: It's work-related. I want to ask for her opinion on a car.

TAYLOR: Let me look it up in my contacts and I'll forward it to you. She's not home right now. I saw her leave earlier in a taxi.

TYLER: Did she say where she was going?

TAYLOR: I didn't get a chance to ask her.

TYLER: Thanks. Please send her number anyway.

TAYLOR: Okay. Just a sec

Tyler received the contact information and quickly added it to his contact list. He then dialed Katie's number. She picked up after two rings.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Katie, this is Tyler. Do you have a minute to talk?"

"A few minutes. What can I do for you?"

"Do you know much about Chevrolet Corvettes?" Tyler asked.

Katie was silent for a beat before responding, "I know a bit about them. Why?"

"If I sent you a picture, do you think you could help me identify anything special about one particular Corvette?"

"Special in what way?" she asked.

"I'm not really sure" Tyler admitted. "I was just told that there might be something special about this car besides it being a classic, and I'm hoping that whatever it is will allow me to narrow down who the owner might be."

"I don't know how much I would be able to tell you from a picture. Most of the things that would make one Corvette special when compared to others wouldn't necessarily be visible in a photograph. They're usually under the hood or somewhere else related to the performance of the car. Not much was ever special in the appearance of one Corvette from another, at least in the same model year. There are a few exceptions, such as plaques or logos denoting special editions or something."

"It must be something like that because whatever it was is something evident from just looking at the car," Tyler told her.

Katie was silent for so long that Tyler checked the display on his phone to see if the call was still connected. "Katie, you still there?"

"Yes, sorry. Okay, send me the photo and I'll see if I can recognize anything that might help you. However, I probably won't be able to get back to you until Monday."

"You're not going to be home until Monday?" Tyler asked.

"I didn't say that. I said that I wouldn't be able to get back to you until Monday."

"So, you'll be back before Monday?"

"Tyler, please don't make me be rude to you. I agreed to look at the photo for you. That should be enough. My comings and goings are not your concern. Now, is there anything else?"

Now it was Tyler who was momentarily speechless. He felt like a child who had just been reprimanded for his manners.

"I'm sorry, Katie. I'll just send you the photo and let you get back to me when you have the chance. Thanks."

There was no response from Katie, and this time when Tyler checked his display, the call had been disconnected.

Katie hated disconnecting the call without warning, but she didn't want the conversation with the Marine sentry to be overheard by Tyler.

Chapter Four

The entry gate sentry for the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station was naturally a Marine.

Katie exited the taxi after paying the fare and watched it drive away before approaching the sentry station. She already saw her next ride on the other side of the gate.

"Good afternoon, Corporal. My name is Katie Brandt, and I believe you have a pass for me."

The Marine Corporal didn't salute her, but his demeanor noticeably stiffened as he said, "Yes Ma'am. If you can show me some ID, I will get your pass for you. Your driver is waiting for you right over there."

The Corporal pointed to the waiting Humvee on the other side of the gate. Katie presented her driver's license, which the Marine inspected quickly and then handed her the pass that provided unescorted access to the entire facility. He didn't know who this woman was, but he knew not to delay her progress.

"Thank you," Katie said as she took the pass and clipped it to the pocket of her shirt.

She waited for the Corporal to open the pedestrian gate for her by pushing a button that released its lock. She then went through the gate and climbed into the Humvee. Without exchanging any words with the Marine driver, she settled onto the front passenger seat and began her journey through the massive weapons facility.

As they approached the World War Two National Submarine Memorial - West, she stared out her window and said a silent prayer for the souls of the more than three thousand American sailors who lost their lives on submarines during World War II.

The driver slowed and stopped with her door aligned with the walkway that led to the memorial. Katie climbed out of the Humvee and heard it pull away as she walked up the path to meet the two men waiting for her on a bench.

Both men stood as Katie neared them. She greeted each of them with a kiss on the cheek, "Hi Joey. Hi Uncle Jason. What's going on?"

Her cousin Joey directed her to sit between them on the bench before speaking, "We just wanted to see how you were doing and discuss some new activities that came to our attention."

"As we always knew," her uncle began, "the news media isn't letting the events at Shoreline Mall fade into obscurity. Of course, they are being encouraged by all the politicians who continue to use the events to showcase their own agendas, whatever those might be."

Her Uncle was the Director of Intelligence for Brandt Consulting, which in turn was contracted as the Operations Directorate for the Department of Homeland Security. Her cousin Joey also worked for Brandt Consulting, teaching counter-terrorism at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center near Brunswick, Georgia. They had summoned her to this meeting through a coded reply to an online blog that she had been following as a means of communicating with them and her father in an untraceable manner.

"Fill me in," Katie told them.

Joey began to explain, "It has been easy getting the cooperation of Sheriff Radcliff to stonewall the investigation under National Security. He's former Special Forces and knows the importance of protecting our assets. He also realizes that even if the woman at the mall was identified, no local prosecutor who wanted to ever get elected again would file charges against her."

Her uncle continued the briefing, "Now, enter the Attorney General for the State of California. He is from the most liberal sections of the Bay area, has grandiose political ambitions, is fervently anti-gun ownership, hates the current administration in Washington, and controls his own Department of Law Enforcement."

Katie thought back to her conversation with Tyler at the car show.

"I've heard of it," she said.

"Well," her uncle continued, "He has ordered his investigators to take over the case from Sheriff Radcliff's department."

"Uh oh," Katie said. "Anything new on the guy I shot?"

"Bits and pieces keep coming in, but nothing that tells us why," said Joey as he checked the screen on his cell phone.

"His name of record for the investigation is Tom Adams, but his true name was Andrew Carmichael, age twenty-nine. The mother's name was Abigail. She died of liver cancer two months after his birth. She had apparently refused any treatment for the cancer while she was pregnant and there was little hope for her by the time the boy was born. Father was a British journalist who was killed five months before Andrew's birth when a bomb exploded in the pub where he was conducting an interview. The pub was known to be a gathering spot for gay men, so the authorities assumed that the anti-homosexual movement in Great Britain at the time was behind the bombing, but no one was ever arrested or charged in the incident."

"So, he was an orphan at two months of age?" asked Katie.

"Correct. Abigail Carmichael was an American citizen, so she returned to live with her grandmother in Morongo Valley, California while she suffered through the cancer and awaited the birth of the child that they had tried for so many years to have."

"No other relatives?"

Joey continued reading, "Nope. The grandmother couldn't care for the infant, so he bounced around from foster home to foster home his entire life. The amazing thing, at least to me, is that he appeared to make friends easily, was popular with his classmates, always excelled in academics and athletics, consistently being at the top of his classes all the way through the various schools he attended before graduating as the valedictorian of his high school."

"What happened after high school?" asked Katie.

"It appears that he tried to get a scholarship to several universities, but because he was a white male, and the quotas at the time stacked the opportunities against him. He took whatever classes he could get at community colleges, but these were all vocational training-focused courses in electronics, drafting, and so on. Even the community colleges were required to give preference on the degree-track courses to women and minorities, so he seldom found an opening in one of these that he could take advantage of."

"What about his social life?" asked Katie. "Anything there, any associations, jobs or anything that might point to a motive for wanting to shoot up a shopping mall?"

"Nothing so far. People who knew him thought that he might have someone special in his life, but no one could identify who it might have been. The employers that have been interviewed all stated that he was a hard worker and would have gone a lot further with their companies if they had been able to base career opportunities on merit and job performance instead of gender, race and other similar factors. It looks like whenever one of his employers had to make personnel cuts, they were forced to choose him first."

"Sounds like the cards were stacked against him."

"It appears that way," agreed her uncle. "However, we haven't found anything yet that indicates that he expressed any anger or resentment over the biases that he faced in life. It would seem to be a triggering factor, but we haven't found anything yet. We're still looking."

"Well, while you're looking, here's something else that might become an issue for us," Katie said, and she proceeded to tell them about her new neighbor and about the request he had made to her while on her way to this meeting.

"Do you think this guy suspects something?" asked her uncle.

"No" assured Katie. "He's just nosey by nature. It wouldn't hurt to try and shut down this new investigation though."

"That will take some serious discussion," Joey told her. "If we go to this Attorney General and play the national security card, he won't be intimidated. He'll more than likely hold a press conference touting his refusal to cooperate, to protect the citizens of California and similar garbage. We would need to find some way of convincing him that dropping the investigation was more in his future interests than pursuing it."

"How?" Katie asked.

Her uncle put his arm around her shoulder and said, "We don't know right now, but we'll get a team working on it as soon as I get back to the office. You should try to avoid your new neighbor as much as possible for a while, though."

"I have been avoiding him already, but that's just because he won't usually accept, 'It's none of your business' when delivered in a polite manner."

"That might work in your favor," said Joey. "If you've already established a relationship where you are reluctant to answer his questions, refusing to answer any now, especially related to the shooting, won't be viewed as unusual."

"Good point," she said as she stood. "I need to get back and help Cile. Have you made any arrangements for my ride or do I need to call a taxi?"

"We'll drive you to the main gate," her uncle said. "There should be an unmarked Sheriff's car waiting for you there. The female deputy in it will drive you wherever you want to go."

When they got to her uncle and cousin's car, she hugged them both before she climbed into the back seat.

"When are you flying back?" she asked.

Her uncle turned around slightly in the front passenger seat to answer her, "We have your dad's plane at John Wayne airport. Our plan is for Cile to join us Sunday morning. Her or Joey will fly us all back to San Antonio together. We have some business to deal with at the border crossing at San Ysidro tomorrow, so we're heading to San Diego for the night."

Katie checked the time on her phone and said, "You're going to be in the worst of Friday afternoon rush hour traffic if you leave now. Are you sure that you don't want to have dinner with us or something and then head down?"

"Oh, we're not driving down to San Diego," Joey told her. "We have a Marine helicopter standing by for us at the base helipad."

"Boys and their toys," Katie said, and they all laughed.

~~~

Tyler opened the garage door using the controls mounted on the wall, just outside the kitchen door. As soon as he walked out of the garage into the alley behind their condo on his way to his car, he saw that Katie's garage door was open. He stopped to look inside and saw a strange woman rummaging through boxes on the shelves in Katie's garage.

"Excuse me," he said. "Do you mind telling me who you are?"

The woman turned to face him. She was stunningly beautiful, with long hair the color of wheat, a body that would make a swimsuit model envious, and an expression that could only be described as 'challenging' to his inquiry.

"Who wants to know?" she said defiantly. Her voice held a stronger hint of the accent he and Taylor had detected from Katie.

Tyler smiled and flashed his badge at her. She didn't appear the least bit impressed.

"Oh, you must be Tyler," she observed. "I'm Celia. I'm Katie's cousin. If she mentioned me at all she probably called me 'Cile'."

Tyler approached the entrance to Katie's garage. The fluorescent fixtures bathed the entire area in light bright enough to perform surgery. He had assumed previously that they must be LED lights, but had never asked to confirm that assumption.

"Katie's not home. Do you mind if I ask what you're doing in her garage?"

"I know," Cile said, "that's why I have my own key. And yes, I do mind you asking."

"It must run in the family," Tyler thought. Why challenge every question posed to them?

Tyler smiled at her and said, "Well then, maybe you wouldn't mind me asking if you need any help?"

Cile studied him for a few seconds and said, "You could pull those two boxes down from the top shelf so that I don't have to go get a step stool."

Tyler walked into the garage without responding and silently lifted the two boxes that Cile had indicated down from the shelf and placed them on the workbench where she was waiting.

"Thank you," she said. "I had expected Katie to be here to get the higher boxes down. She wouldn't need a step stool either."

"I got the impression that Katie was away for the weekend," Tyler said as he leaned back against the side of Katie's truck.

Cile smiled at him and said, "I can't help your impressions, Tyler, but Katie is not away for the weekend. I wouldn't be here if she was. We're working on this project together."

"And what project is that?"

She studied him for a second before responding, "Tyler, do you always ask so many questions?"

"How else am I supposed to learn about a person," he replied with a smile.

"You might want to consider patiently gaining their trust and allowing them to openly share with you the things about themselves that they want you to know. That doesn't mean that you can't ask any questions, just try to make them less personal or private in nature."

"Asking what you and Katie are working on is a personal or private question?"

"In this case it is, and that's part of my point. Until you know a person better, you will likely be challenged to recognize what things they consider personal. It's best if you let what they share with you be your guide."

Tyler contemplated her words as he watched her open one of the boxes and flip through numerous framed photographs inside it. He couldn't see any of the photos, but judging by the changing expression that some of them prompted on Cile's face, he surmised that these were pictures of family or events that she remembered fondly.

"Okay," Tyler finally said, "This is an observation and not a question. This propensity for privacy appears to be a family trait shared by you and Katie."

Cile turned to face him, leaning against the workbench and crossing her arms. If she wore any make-up on her face it wasn't obvious, yet her complexion was flawless, and her cheeks glowed with a natural blush that drew attention to them. From there it was a short journey to her sparkling green eyes that seemed to dance with laughter even when she wasn't even smiling. Like now.

"Katie and I grew up together," she stated. "It's only natural that we would share certain 'traits' as you call them. I think we both believe that asking questions that are none of our business is rude social behavior. Wouldn't it be hypocritical of us to believe asking a personal question was rude but answering them wasn't? Now, if you wanted to ask me my opinion about something, I would likely share that information with you, depending on the subject of course."

Tyler had been raised in what he had always assumed was proper high-society culture. He knew which fork to use when, how to properly shake hands, and how late to a party he could be without being disrespectful. He was taught as a child that when in the presence of adults, he shouldn't speak unless they first spoke to him, and all the other acceptable behaviors that his social status had demanded he learn. For him to now be verbally spanked by two different women for asking innocent questions didn't sit well with him.

"I don't imagine that either of you get many offers to date," he told Cile.

The laughter never left her eyes as she said, "I only date gentlemen who respect me. If he doesn't respect my privacy, he isn't going to respect me. It's not like they can't ask me anything at all, they should just keep their questions appropriate. For example, on a first date, it is perfectly appropriate to ask me what I do for a living, but it's not appropriate to ask me where I work. Do you see the difference?"

"Okay, so what do you do for a living?" Tyler asked with a chuckle.

"We're not on a date," Cile teased. "However, I'll tell you anyway. I'm a nurse practitioner."

"There you are!"

Both Cile and Tyler turned at the sound of Katie's voice. She was just stepping down from the kitchen door into the garage to join them. There was not enough space for her to go behind the truck, so Katie walked around the hood, smiled at Tyler as she passed him, and embraced Cile.

Tyler stood and just watched the two cousins while he considered what he should do.

"How was your trip?" Katie asked.

"Uneventful," replied Cile. "How was your meeting?"

Katie glanced in Tyler's direction and said, "I'll tell you later. Did you find all the photos we discussed?"

Cile and Katie turned back to the boxes on the workbench, seeming to ignore Tyler's presence. They started discussing the photos that Cile had pulled out of the boxes between themselves in voices that, while not whispers, were intended to make overhearing them difficult for him.

After about five minutes, Katie finally turned to him.

Cile turned to face him as well, but it was Katie who addressed him first. Her ice-blue eyes were smiling as brightly as he had ever seen.

"Hello Tyler, I want to apologize for disconnecting our call so abruptly earlier. My situation changed suddenly, and I had to react faster than I would have preferred. I'm sorry. Now, is there something that I can do for you?"

"Have dinner with me," he said, surprising himself as much as he did Katie.

Katie grinned at him and said, "I have a guest, in case you haven't noticed."

Tyler smiled back at her, "The invitation was for you and your guest. Taylor is out with friends and I was heading out to get some dinner. I met Cile here and would enjoy continuing my education in proper manners. Between the two of you, I'll be completely schooled by the end of the day. I'm certain of that."

Cile giggled, and Katie raised an eyebrow at her before answering, "We already have plans for dinner, but if you give us a few seconds to discuss your offer, I'll let you know."

The two women left Tyler leaning against Katie's truck as they walked around it and into the kitchen of her condo and closed the door behind them. Tyler couldn't hear what was being said, but he couldn't miss the few muffled words being followed by raucous laughter from two people. The kitchen door opened once more, and Katie led Cile back around the truck and spoke to Tyler.

"We would like to suggest an alternative to your offer. We would like to invite you to join us tonight for our traditional taco feast. Cile and I make them whenever we're together these days. If you want to do something to help, we'll let you supply the Margaritas."

"Frozen or on the rocks?" Tyler asked as he moved away from the side of the truck. Then he smiled broadly at Cile and added, "If that question isn't too personal for you?"

"I'll let it slide this time," she retorted. "On the rocks, with all fresh ingredients. No yucky mixed stuff for us."

"And make sure you use a high-quality tequila," added Katie. "We will be able to tell the difference."

"Leave it all to me," stated Tyler. "I worked as a bartender while at UCLA. You, ladies, are going to be drinking the best Margaritas you have ever tasted."

"Tyler," said Katie with a laugh, "Everything is bigger in Texas, but your boasting might exceed even that. You have an hour before we'll be ready to eat, so use your time wisely."

"Yes ma'am," he said as he blew them both kisses and headed out of the garage to his car.

Cile smiled up at her cousin and stated, "If you're not interested in that guy just let me know. I'll pack him up and bring him back to Texas with me. In fact, if I didn't love you, I would take him back with me whether you were interested or not. He's adorable!"

"Well, cool your jets because I am interested in him," Katie said as she took Cile's hand and guided her back into the kitchen, closing the garage door on the way. "Things with him are very complicated though. So much so that either of us being interested in him poses risks."

"Complicated how?" Katie had captured her attention with that remark.

"He's looking for me," Katie told her.

"What do you mean? He obviously knows where to find you."

Katie sighed and told Cile, "No, he's looking for 'me' as in the woman who stopped the active shooter incident at the mall. The case was just assigned to him today and he's already complicated things between us as a result. He's asked for my help identifying the make and model of car that I - or the woman - drove that day."

"So, he doesn't suspect that you're the woman he is looking for, but he is asking you for your help finding her?" verified Cile.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. Your dad and Joey will try to find a way to shut the investigation down, but it might get tricky for political reasons. I need to keep laying low and being interested in one of the investigators assigned to the case would make that more challenging."

Cile thought about her cousin's dilemma for a few minutes before offering a suggestion. "I think that you should let him find you..."

"What? Are you crazy?" asked Katie. "I would instantly become the most famous woman in the world. I'm not worried about any legal consequences, because I was clearly acting within the law to shoot the guy, but becoming a household name around the world would be disastrous for my career plans, and probably JR's as well."

"Not you the mystery woman, you the woman that you are," emphasized Cile. "Open up to him slowly, as you would with any new relationship. At the same time, you will get to know him better and likely be able to steer his opinions on the search in the best direction to prevent him and his team from ever identifying you as the woman they seek. You know the saying, 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'..."

"Well, in that case, we're on the same wavelength. Even before I found out that Tyler had been assigned to find me, I had toyed with the idea of 'toying with him'. Have you noticed the way that he looks at me? I don't know what he sees, but his interest in me is unlike anything I have ever experienced."

Katie explained Tyler's interest in behavioral science and the way that she had teased him, much the same way that Cile had about asking personal questions. Cile had to sit down when her laughter over Tyler asking if Katie was gay made her legs weak.

"Oh my God, I wish I could stay longer," Cile exclaimed. "We have always shared our toys and this one tops them all."

"I'll make sure that you get his contact information so that you can stay in touch and tease him to your heart's content, but that's where I draw the line with sharing this toy for now."

"I have no problem with that," Cile said. "Why don't you start tonight? Go change into something that will make you look so contrary to what he has seen from you so far. Make his mouth water and his mind muddy."

"Let's get dinner started first and I'll think about it," Katie said.

~~~

Tyler sat on the sofa in Katie's living room, alternately looking around the containers for a sign of the jerboa and watching as she and Cile finished putting the last of their dinner dishes into the dishwasher. They then refilled their drinks from the pitcher of Margaritas that he had made while they cleaned up. It was the third pitcher of the evening and he hoped that it wouldn't be the last.

He had no interest in getting any of them inebriated, and so far, he had nothing to worry about. He was enjoying his time with these two women so much, especially Katie, that he wanted the night to keep going and going.

Cile was undoubtedly a stunning woman, but the transformation in Katie's appearance when he had returned from buying the ingredients for the Margaritas convinced him that she was the most beautiful sight that he had ever seen. This was the second time that he had seen Katie in the presence of another beautiful woman, the first being when he had introduced her to Haley. He had noticed it then, and he noticed again now, that there was an almost ethereal energy surrounding Katie that overshadowed anyone near her.

He didn't know why he hadn't noticed the features on her that as a whole contributed to this exceptionally beautiful creature. There were certain things that he had noticed, such as her eye color, the sheen of her hair, and her flawless complexion. But the way that she dressed, wore her glasses, and styled her hair had somehow kept all her features from melding together for him to appreciate the sum of the whole, as he did right now.

She wasn't wearing her glasses and what he had missed before was very obvious to him now. Her most captivating feature to him was the fire in her eyes. He wanted to play with it; whether it was the raging inferno that flashed when she was asked questions that she didn't want to answer or the shimmering candlelight that softened her gaze and made his knees weak. He wanted to play with all of her moods.

Her statuesque presence in the clingy summer dress was natural, genuine, and actually radiated confidence and strength that he could see and sense around her. He wondered why he was able to see it so clearly in Katie's presence when he had never seen it before in anyone else.

Then he realized that he had seen it before. He had seen it in the mystery woman at the mall. From when she had first entered the video until she had exited the mall, the same obvious confidence and strength that he saw in Katie had been evident in that woman.

"I have to apologize for ever questioning your bartending skills," Katie said, jolting Tyler out of his thoughts.

She was standing beside the sofa, offering him a refill on his Margarita. He smiled up at her as he accepted the glass and set it onto a coaster.

Even in her bare feet, with him sitting and her standing there next to him, his eyes were level with her slender waist. She gracefully stepped over his feet and took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa. He was once more treated to her scent as she passed him and he hungrily drank it in, strengthening the olfactory memory that he somehow knew he never wanted to lose. He turned slightly so that he would have a better frontal view of Katie sitting next to him, as well as Cile, who had chosen to sit in the chair across from the sofa.

Katie's appearance wasn't the only change that Tyler noticed. Her entire demeanor towards him was friendlier and more interesting than during any of their previous encounters. She had always been pleasant, but professional, and there had been a very obvious shield, almost like a force field, which seemed to be in place to keep him at a distance. That didn't appear to be in place this evening and he wondered if the presence of her cousin is what brought the changes about.

"Are those the flowers that Taylor sent you?" Tyler asked Katie.

Katie glanced over to the bouquet of mixed flowers sitting on the dining table as a centerpiece and said, "Yes. Please tell her that they were completely unnecessary."

"I doubt that they were sent strictly as a 'thank you' for helping her with her car. She charged them to my account because I was to blame for her problems. She is getting back at me by sending them to you and making me pay for them."

Katie and Cile both laughed. It sounded just like something that either of them would have done with their brothers. Tyler was becoming very fond of Katie's laughter.

"I know that I saw you crack the seal on the bottle and add tequila to the pitcher," Cile eventually said, "so why do your Margaritas taste so smooth and flavorful compared to others?"

Tyler tore his thoughts away from Katie to answer her cousin, "It starts with the tequila. As Katie mentioned, it is easy to tell when a low-quality tequila is used. I chose to use what I consider the world's best tequila for you ladies."

"That must have been expensive," Katie said. "I hoped that you would have chosen something from the top shelf, but you must have reached into the clouds for this stuff. What is it?"

Tyler laughed and told them, "It's actually a mid-priced tequila available at almost any neighborhood liquor store. It's been around since 2008 but few people know about it. The name is Maestro Dobel. The tequila is named in recognition of the legendary leader of the Jose Cuervo distillery. It is a blend of reposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilas, aged one, two and three years, respectively, in European white oak barrels, and then filtered to remove all color. It is the world's only multi-aged tequila, which is what contributes to its smoothness. There are currently three varieties, silver, gold and this one, Diamante, or 'diamond'. I must warn you though, be careful drinking shots of it. It is so smooth that it will sneak up on you."

"Okay," Katie said, "I'm curious about why you and Taylor use both your mother's maiden name as well as your father's last name. Is that a family tradition?"

He took a sip of his drink and answered, "Both sides of my parent's families have a lot of traditions, dating back centuries, but our names are simply the result of my mother's snobbishness over her maiden name. No male Oglethorpes are remaining to pass on the name, so she insisted that her children be able to do so. Rather than giving us regular middle names, she had the legal surnames on our birth certificates listed as Oglethorpe-Davis."

"Oh, so it is hyphenated rather than merely a second name. Now I understand why you use it as you do," said Katie.

Cile changed the subject, "Tyler, have you ever done any speed dating?"

He glanced between the two women and saw the mischievous looks on both of their faces. Were they ganging up on him?

"No, as I believe I have demonstrated to both of you, I prefer getting to know a person through observation, conversation, and what you both have described as probing and sometimes personal questions."

"Do you want to try it?" asked Cile. "It would be a good test of your skill in asking appropriate questions."

He glanced once more at Katie. Her expression was almost hopeful. That made the decision for him.

"Sure. What guy wouldn't want to date two beautiful women?"

Katie said, "You know that we're not really dating here. We're simply going to try and help you learn how to properly gauge whether your questions are appropriate for when you are just getting to know someone. I'll start. What do you think your best feature is?"

"Good question," giggled Cile.

Tyler sat considering his answer, but Katie wouldn't wait.

"The point is for you to answer quickly. That's why it's called 'speed dating' and not 'take your time to answer dating'," she teased.

"I consider morality my best feature," Tyler answered.

Katie and Cile both laughed. When her laughter subsided, Cile said, "Stand up and let us have a good look at this 'morality' feature. Can you show it to us with your clothes on?"

Tyler feigned looking hurt when he said, "You cut me deep Shrek," in a pretty good Eddie Murphy impersonation Katie thought, which made her and Cile erupt into laughter again.

When their laughter had subsided enough, Tyler said, "My turn".

He looked at Cile and asked, "How would a former boyfriend describe you in three words?"

Cile glanced at Katie before answering, "These words are how they would describe me, not how I would describe myself. First, I think they would say that I didn't place a high enough priority on my relationship with them, which is probably why they are an 'ex'. I give priority to the people and things that I love. Secondly, I think that they would say that I am adventurous and fun to be around. Finally, I think that they would say that I am pretty. I am proud of that and want my guy to be proud as well, but he should never try to show me off. Now it's my turn. What's your strangest quirk?"

"So, I get two questions for each of yours one?" Tyler asked.

"You're the one who needs the practice," Cile said as she and Katie started laughing once more.

Tyler was enjoying his interaction with these two women too much to argue. He took less time to answer this time.

"I find challenges stimulating rather than stressful, which I suppose is why I am sitting here with the two of you right now."

He looked into Katie's eyes and continued, "I think you are the biggest challenge I have ever faced."

Neither woman responded to his answer, so he asked Katie, "What do you like, but are embarrassed to admit?"

Katie's first thought was "YOU," but she controlled her impulse to blurt that out. Instead, she said, "I like the thought of kisses that will curl my toes. It's embarrassing because it has never happened, yet I still like the thought that it could."

"You're still young," Tyler told her with a smile and a wink. "Anything could happen. What's your next question?"

"What's the most romantic thing that a woman can do for you?" she asked.

"Be honest with me," Tyler answered almost immediately. "I don't mean not lying to me, but she has to be real and genuine in what she does and never do anything simply because she thinks it's expected or required."

"Can you two excuse me for a few minutes?" Cile asked. "I need to go powder my nose and I don't want to miss anything."

As Cile began to rise, Katie stood up too. "I should probably add a little powder to my nose as well. Tequila salt seems to make it fade quickly."

Cile laughed and cried, "Don't make me laugh right now or my nose will start running all over your condo."

Tyler was laughing at the two women as they ran together into the master bedroom and closed the door behind them. He took the opportunity to use the half bath in the entryway for his own relief and was back on the sofa before they returned to join him.

When Katie returned to the sofa, she sat closer to Tyler and tucked her legs under as she positioned herself to be more face to face than she had been previously.

"It's your turn to ask a question," Cile told him.

"Okay," said Tyler as he addressed Cile, "What's the quickest way to a man's heart?"

"Go between the fourth and fifth rib," she said with a grin. Tyler just raised his eyebrows in response.

Cile asked him, "Which do you like more; crunchy or smooth peanut butter?"

"Smooth on sandwiches and crunchy any other way," Tyler said. He smiled at Katie and asked, "Does anything about your future make you nervous?"

The expression on Katie's face changed for only a second, but it was enough for Tyler to recognize that his question had struck a nerve.

She recovered quickly and replied, "I think like most people, the uncertainty of my future makes me nervous at times. As the saying goes, 'If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans'. I have plans, and I have faith, but having that faith tells me that my plans are not mine to control."

Tyler sensed that there was something else that Katie couldn't control besides divine providence, but he didn't push her on it. Katie looked over to Cile before glancing over her shoulder into the kitchen.

"I think we should call it a night," Katie said to Cile. "We need to finish up with the photos in the morning and you're still on Central time."

Tyler rose to face the women and saw that they still looked happy, but there was something that had dampened their spirits in his last question.

"I can't remember when I have had a more enjoyable time in the presence of the opposite sex. Thank you both so much for including me in your evening. If you don't have plans for tomorrow night, I would be honored to have you both as my guests for dinner. I know of a great restaurant with the best view of the sunset, but let me know as soon as you decide so I can get us reservations."

Katie and Cile stood and looked at each other. To Tyler, it seemed like they were communicating silently with each other with their eyes and body language because they appeared more focused on each other than he thought was normal.

"That would be lovely," Katie said as she turned to face him. "What time were you thinking of?"

"I typically like to be there by six in the evening so that I get more choice of seats on the deck, but if that's too early for you, we can make it later."

Katie glanced at Cile, who provided a verbal response so that Tyler would know what was decided, "Six is perfect for me."

"Great," Tyler said as he headed towards the front door. "I'll come by to pick you both up tomorrow at five-thirty."

"What should we wear?" asked Katie, who was walking with him on his way out.

Tyler paused and turned to face her. He smiled as he purposely ran his gaze from her head to her feet. She sure looked good dressed as a girl.

"Shoes will be a requirement, but nothing has to be too formal. I will probably wear casual slacks and a Tommy Bahama shirt, something like that. I'm sure you both will look beautiful in whatever you choose to wear."

Katie felt herself blush. "Thank you. We'll be ready at five-thirty."

"I look forward to seeing you both tomorrow. Good night, and thanks again for the wonderful tacos and even more wonderful company."

"It has been our pleasure," Katie assured him. As he opened the door, she touched his arm to get his attention.

"Before I forget, the car in the picture that you asked about is a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette, which you already knew. The thing that makes this car something that a fan of Corvettes would take note of is that it is a Grand Sport."

Tyler stared at her in amazement for several seconds before he found his voice, "How can you tell all that from a picture?"

He pulled the picture up on his cell phone and turned it so that she could see it along with him.

Katie laughed and said, "All I can tell from the picture is that it is a Grand Sport edition."

She pointed to several items on the car, "See the hash-mark fender graphics, the Z06-style grille, and wider rear fenders. The wheels are specific to the Grand Sport models too, as well as the rear spoiler. This is definitely a 2017 Grand Sport, and it is definitely one of only 151 of them made."

"You really are into rare cars, aren't you?" he asked as he put his phone away.

Katie smiled warmly at him and said, "I like 'unique' things of all sorts. They don't have to be rare, just different from normal, so to speak."

"Well, I think you're pretty unique," he told her.

Katie surprised herself by kissing Tyler on the cheek before saying, "I like you too Tyler. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Katie stood at her open door and watched Tyler cross the small courtyard that separated their condos. Before he closed his front door, he turned and blew her a kiss. They exchanged smiles and both closed their doors, eyes still locked on each other.

Katie returned to the living room to find Cile picking up the empty Margarita glasses and taking them into the kitchen.

"There's enough in the pitcher for one more for each of us," she told Katie.

"Sure," Katie said as she joined Cile in the kitchen.

They stood across from each other, leaning against a counter while sipping their drinks.

"So, have your thoughts changed about Tyler from earlier?" Katie asked.

Cile licked some salt off the rim of her glass and said, "Some. He certainly wants to please you, or at least stay on your good side. How much of that is due to his upbringing and knowing how to treat someone with respect versus it being due to him having feelings for you is hard to say. That will be something that you will learn from watching his interactions with others. My initial impression that you could place yourself into a position to influence some of his decisions remains unchanged."

Katie shook her head, "I don't know about that. I've been pondering his response to the question related to what he thinks his best feature is. Morality can take many different forms, and I sense that beyond that, he is also driven to be extremely ethical. Some of the things he has told me about his upbringing make me think that he is almost rebelling against the social privilege that is associated with his family and wants to show the world that he doesn't consider himself better than anyone else."

"I heard you telling him about the car. Wasn't that risky?"

"I figured that since he had asked me for help identifying it, I was going to have to tell him something at some point. My hope is that even if he was somehow able to link me to my Corvette, he would dismiss the coincidence out of hand. After all, who would willingly provide law enforcement with the information that would lead them right back to them?"

"Could he link you to your Corvette at some point?" Cile asked as she finished her drink and rinsed the glass.

Katie handed Cile her empty glass to be rinsed and said, "That would be virtually impossible. My dad would make certain of that. I have to tell you though; I sure miss driving that car."

"What else is there besides the car that could lead them to you?"

Katie shrugged and said, "Not much if anything. We've both seen the security videos and my face isn't visible in any of them, except for a portion of my right side while I was out of the shadows taking the shots. Everything from the clothes I was wearing to the P380 has been destroyed completely. With my hairstyle so drastically altered, trying to compare the images of me in the mall to how I look now would be a stretch for anyone."

"I hope so," said Cile, "for two reasons."

"What reasons?"

"First, because I don't want you to be identified and having to face the challenges that would present to your career objectives and to our family. The second reason is that I think you and Tyler would make a great couple. I don't want his investigation of the case to complicate whatever you want to have with him. You do still like him, don't you?"

"It amazes me how much I like him," Katie said as a dreamy expression appeared on her face. "I feel like a teenage girl having her first crush, including butterflies in my stomach, being lost for words many times, and I'm sure that I have never blushed so easily in my life as I do when he is around."

"I think you have a similar effect on him. He could hardly take his eyes off you all night."

Katie shook her head, "That may have been only because he was seeing me dressed like a girl for a change and without my glasses. Although, his tendency to make and keep eye contact is an attractive quality. Did you notice?"

"That's what I meant," said Cile. "He would glance at me and look me in the eye when speaking to me, but even then, it was like he was anxious to get his eyes back onto yours. If it was me, and some guy was that focused on my eyes, I might begin to wonder what he was trying to see."

Katie laughed, "The first time that he and I spent any time alone talking was at the car show I told you about a few months ago before him and his sister moved in. I questioned him then on why he seemed to study people so intently. So, you see, I don't know yet if his interest is anything more than research at this point. I hope it is."

"Maybe I should beg off on dinner tomorrow night so you could be alone with him?"

"Don't you even think of it!" Katie said. "Things are still too complicated. I don't feel comfortable enough being alone with him yet. You're the one with all the experience with dating, so I could use your guidance for one more night at least."

"I've never understood that. You have always been the one that the guys would gravitate to first, yet they usually found you too intimidating. Why do you think that is?"

"My mom says it's because it becomes clear to them very quickly that I don't need them. She says that most men aren't satisfied with a woman wanting them, they need to feel needed as well."

"So, if they don't think that you need them to take care of you, they feel intimidated? What does that say about how they perceive me? Do guys think that I am some helpless waif or something? I can assure you that they soon find out otherwise. Your mom's theory could explain why I haven't had a boyfriend relationship last more than a few months. That and my unwillingness to have sex simply for the sake of having sex."

While Katie wasn't an innocent virgin. That had ended during her sophomore year at Texas A&M. Her sexual experiences had been few, infrequent, and disappointing. Fulfilling only the momentary physical desires at the time, she had never, in her definition at least, made love to a man. She knew that the lack of intimacy that she had experienced in her life was due to the expectations that she had developed from seeing her parents' shared love and knowing their history. She knew in her heart that there was a special bond waiting for her out there with one special man.

Katie sighed and said, "At least you have had more than just a few offers for one-night stands. Guys don't even have an interest in waking up next to me it seems, and I can't say that I have ever wanted to wake up next to one of them. I have a feeling that Tyler might be different. He doesn't seem like someone who would be threatened by a woman who can take care of herself. Time will tell."

"So, you want to wake up next to him already?" Cile teased. "You floozy!"

Katie laughed and said, "I'm not in any rush, but the thought of waking up next to him isn't distasteful to either of us from what you have implied."

Cile grinned, "He's safe as long as you like him, that's all I can promise."

Chapter Five

"That definitely is a positive," said Claire. "Having only 151 cars of that model manufactured should make identifying it much easier."

Tyler nodded and took another drink of coffee. He had been updating Claire and Dennis on what Katie had told him about the Corvette over breakfast. They were scheduled to meet with Sheriff Radcliff in a little under an hour, and he wanted the opportunity for them to all to be as informed as possible before the meeting.

Claire continued with what she had learned at the Tiffany's store, "As I expected Tiffany's sells only GIA certified diamonds. All diamonds that have been graded by the Gemological Institute of America or GIA carry an engraved serial number. If the purchase really was a gift and the person who received the diamond pendant from our mystery woman has insured it, we might be able to trace her back through that."

"Any feedback from the 'man' on our first update from yesterday?" Dennis asked.

"No. I doubt that he has even read it yet," said Claire.

They had agreed to take turns sending the daily e-mail update that the AG had demanded, and Claire had offered to do the first one.

"He's probably too busy with some political event this weekend to pay much attention to what we're doing," said Dennis. "I'll send him an update tonight filling him in on our progress after meeting with the Sheriff. You guys want to ride over to his office together?"

"We might as well," said Tyler, grinning at Claire. "We can leave our cars here and all fit into that 'Soccer Mom' car that you drive."

"Fine with me," said Claire. "Maybe I'll even put the back seat up for you so that you don't have to sit on the floor. The dog hair should come out of your clothes after only a couple of washes."

Dennis and Tyler laughed as they rose from their chairs. They both knew that Claire's car would be as spotless as her desk. Even though she did have two mixed-breed dogs that she trained for agility competitions, she would make certain that any trace of them was cleaned out of her car after transporting them anywhere.

"I'll take care of the check and meet you guys outside," said Tyler.

The drive to the headquarters of the Orange County Sheriff's Office took less than five minutes. The parking lot had few cars in it on this Saturday morning, so they were able to park much closer to the front entrance than any weekday visit would have allowed. The lobby doors were secured, but upon pressing the call button next to them, they were buzzed in without any delay.

After signing in with the Sheriff Sergeant at the counter, they were escorted to the Sheriff's private conference room adjacent to his office. The agents recognized Sheriff Radcliff instantly from his numerous appearances on the nightly news. He had been compared to a younger version of General Dwight Eisenhower during World War II, and even dressed in casual khaki slacks and a sheriff's department polo shirt, he exuded an air of authority that no one could easily ignore.

Sheriff Radcliff met them at the door to the conference room and shook each agent's hand before introducing them to the other men in the room. The sheriff and his three detectives looked as if they were all ready for eighteen holes of golf just as soon as this meeting was over. The agents took seats on one side of the table. The sheriff took a seat at the head of it, and his three detectives sat across from the agents. There was an electronic data binder and several file tablets stacked in the center of the conference table between the agents and the sheriff's detectives.

"Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice," said Tyler. "We'll try not to take up too much of your Saturday morning."

"We're always happy to oblige another agency," said Radcliff. "We are surprised that it took y'all so long to show an interest in this case, though."

"You don't object to our interest in the Shoreline Mall case?" asked Claire.

The three detectives laughed with the sheriff before he answered, "Hell no. This case had 'hot potato' written all over it from the start. Even if we were able to identify and locate the woman who shot the gunman, there is no way that our esteemed District Attorney would have wanted to prosecute her. She's a bonafide hero in the eyes of everyone except apparently your boss."

Claire crossed her arms in a defiant gesture and said, "The District Attorney could have taken her to the Grand Jury, then he would be doing his job and not risk alienating voters. Isn't that his concern?"

"We discussed that," admitted Radcliff, "but we felt that even suggesting that the woman had done something wrong by preventing a mass shooting in the mall that day would be perceived as persecution of her, if not outright prosecution. Even the press and television media don't want us to find her to charge her with anything, they just want to know who she is so they can interview her, dissect her background, and runs stories on her to increase their ratings."

"It doesn't sound like your hearts were really in this investigation from the beginning," said Dennis. "Maybe some new and unbiased eyes will find a break."

The sheriff detective in the middle, who had been introduced as Vern Martin, pushed the data binder and file tablets across the table to place them closer to the agents.

"Our hearts and souls go into every case we investigate. Feel free to go through our files with a fine-tooth comb. You won't find any deficiencies or neglect anywhere."

Tyler pulled the stack of electronic reports over in front of himself and said, "We're not looking to judge anybody's work. We would appreciate your feel for the case and how your investigation was driven based upon the things that you learned along the way. For example, what is your take on the video surveillance files being deleted?"

Vern looked to the sheriff and received a nod, "It was just the first of several strange coincidences that made us suspect that there was a higher power involved in this case."

Dennis chuckled and asked, "Do you mean that you suspect divine intervention deleted those files?"

Sheriff Radcliff spoke, "By higher power, Vern means a higher political power. Our IT consultant is a doctoral student in ethical hacking at Cal Poly Pomona. He is certain that the alleged ransomware event was staged to hide the involvement of some government agency."

"Why would some agency like the NSA want to delete those video files?" asked Claire. "Do you suspect that the woman's identity is being protected by the Feds?"

"I believe that you will come to the same conclusion once you go through the reports and follow up on things yourselves," said Vern. "Didn't you ever wonder why we never publicized a sketch of the woman?"

The three agents glanced at each other before Dennis replied for them all, "We assumed that you were holding it back until you identified some suspects to compare it to. You mean to tell us that there is no sketch?"

Vern shook his head and said, "Not even a crayon stick figure. The woman spent almost thirty minutes with the clerk at Tiffany's while selecting her purchase, but it turns out that the clerk had forgotten to bring her glasses to work that day. Being nearsighted, she could only see things clearly within about fifteen inches from her face. The woman was always across the counter from the clerk, which kept her twenty to twenty-four inches away at all times. The best the clerk could tell us was that the woman had two eyes, one nose, one mouth, and dark hair."

"Coincidentally," added the sheriff, "the clerk had never forgotten her glasses before that day and she hasn't forgotten them since. Our team didn't get a chance to interview her until the next day, so we can't dispute her claim that she couldn't see the woman, but our gut says that someone got to her before we did. 'A higher power' as Vern said."

"Why wasn't she interviewed that day?" asked Claire.

"There are more than 150 stores in Shoreline Mall," explained Vern. "We didn't know which ones the woman may have been in if any. We started with the larger department stores, and each of those had close to a hundred employees that we had to interview to see if anyone had seen her. It took us a week to speak with every employee at every store that had been on duty that day. We got to Tiffany's the second day, but as the sheriff mentioned, someone else had apparently known about the woman's purchase and beaten us to the clerk in question."

Tyler wasn't positive, but he felt pretty certain that his partners were agreeing with the sheriff's detectives that some sort of conspiracy was involved.

"Okay, what about any attempts to enhance the video files that were obtained? Was your lab able to get a clearer and more defined view of her face?"

"We can count the freckles on her right cheek and the bridge of her nose, but we were never able to get a fuller image of her face," Vern confirmed for them. "The starfish earring in her ear is unique according to the lab, but we have struck out on trying to identify it. None of the major jewelry chains carry anything like it."

"What about the car she was driving?" asked Dennis. "Find anything new on that?"

"Not much. The plates aren't visible in the limited video footage we have so enhancing that isn't an option. We know only that it is a Chevrolet Corvette, probably a 2016 through 2018 model and it is painted either Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic or Blade Silver Metallic. The problem is, according to the manufacturer, these cars were frequently sold in one color because it was the only one that the dealer had with the features the customer wanted, and then got re-painted by the customer after the sale. It could have been anything from Torch Red to Racing Yellow in the manufacturer's records, so we are still left with thousands of possible vehicles. In California alone, there were more than five thousand 2016 through 2018 Corvettes originally registered. We figure at least eighty percent of those are still registered but have been transferred out of state due to them not meeting the newer emissions standards that limit how often they can be driven. If it was registered in another state, the emissions restrictions wouldn't apply, but we also wouldn't have access to the owner records as easily."

Tyler knew that his partners were looking at him, deferring to him on whether to share what he had learned about only 151 of these cars being manufactured. He decided not to share the information at this time.

"Okay," Tyler said, "we can follow up on the starfish earrings and the car. What about the diamond pendant that the woman bought at Tiffany's? Did you learn anything more about that?"

Vern pointed to the data binder and said, "It's all in there. The diamond in the pendant has a serial number engraved into it, but as of this week, no one has contacted the registering agency, the GIA, to verify the diamond's authenticity. The clerk stated that the woman told her that the pendant was a gift for someone, but didn't mention who. The recipient may not know how much the pendant cost, so that could explain why it hasn't been insured yet. It's hard to believe that the woman hasn't given it as a gift by now if that was her true intention. Who buys a gift that expensive and then holds onto it for more than six months?"

"True," said Claire. "Going back to the coincidences that you mentioned with the computer hacking and the store clerk, have you had any official contact with any Federal agencies regarding this case? Anyone express an interest directly?"

Vern and the other two detectives turned to look at Sheriff Radcliff, who sucked on his lower lip for a few seconds before responding, "We're not at liberty to say."

"And why is that?" asked Claire.

"We're not at liberty to say," repeated the Sheriff.

He then added, "However, I expect that if your department continues attempting to locate and identify this woman, you will likely learn the reason in due course. Now, is there anything further that we can assist you with at this time?"

When all three of the agents just stared at him, Sheriff Radcliff stood, followed by his three detectives. Tyler and his partners hesitated for several more seconds before accepting their dismissal and rising to their feet.

Addressing Vern, Claire asked, "Would you mind providing me with your contact information in case we have any additional questions?"

Without answering, Vern pulled a business card out of his pants pocket and slid it across the table towards Claire. She picked it up while Tyler picked up the data binder and Dennis picked up the file tablets.

"Thank you once again for your time," Tyler said as he followed Claire and Dennis being escorted by Sheriff Radcliff back to the lobby.

The three rode in silence back to the restaurant where they had met for breakfast and where Tyler and Dennis had left their cars.

"Let's grab another cup of coffee and sort things out," Dennis suggested once they were all out of Claire's car.

They sat at the same table as earlier, with the electronic reports from the sheriff's detectives placed in the center of it. Tyler and Dennis sat across from one another, with Claire on the side in between them. They sat lost in their own thoughts until the waitress had brought them three cups and a carafe of coffee.

Once they were alone, Claire spoke, "It seems that we have very little that is new to go on. The information that Tyler has on the car could help us narrow it down, and now the starfish earrings present us with another lead we didn't know about. The serial number on the diamond pendant is already flagged, so all we can do is wait to see if anyone tries to verify it..."

"I think we should divide things up," suggested Dennis. "Tyler can try tracking down the car, and you Claire can stay on the jewelry."

"What are you going to do?" Claire asked.

"I'm going to try and find out which 'higher power' has taken an interest in this case. Knowing that might help us figure out why the coincidences have occurred."

"How?" asked Tyler.

"Well," said Dennis, "if the U.S. Marshals are the ones interested, it might be an indication that the woman is in witness protection or something like that. If it's Treasury, she may be undercover working a counterfeiting case. If it's the FBI, she could be an informant that they want to keep secret. The thing is, we won't know until we find out. I want to try and do that."

"That could be tough," Claire said. "Since nine-eleven and the Patriot Act, it's all become pretty much alphabet soup. The best that the American people can hope for anymore is that every spoonful of the soup comes out spelling U-S-A in some fashion."

"You probably want to be careful about how you word the suspicions about the Feds having an interest in protecting the identity of the woman when you send the update to the man," said Tyler. "He would take those suspicions as fact and be all over the news with it in time for the morning rush hour."

Dennis nodded and said, "I've already been thinking about that. I'll even avoid using the term 'coincidence' to describe the deleted video files and the poor eyesight of the store clerk. The man isn't stupid, and he'll draw similar conclusions as the sheriff's detectives and us."

Claire finished her coffee and stood, "Well partners, my niece has a recital this afternoon in Corona, so I'm going to head out. I can't see us getting much more accomplished until Monday morning, but if either of you come up with something you want to share before then, give me a call."

"Enjoy the recital," Tyler told her.

Dennis found the enhanced and enlarged photo that showed the starfish earrings in one of the file tablets and handed it to Claire, "Here, you might want to spend some time studying this before Monday. Drive safe."

Claire took the tablet and stuck it in her bag before turning and walking out of the restaurant to her car. Tyler and Dennis remained at the table finishing their coffees. Nothing was said for several minutes as both men silently pondered the 'hot potato' case that they had been given.

Tyler finally pulled out his cell phone, searched for a name in the contact list, and then sent a text message.

"Who are you texting?" asked Dennis.

"A woman I used to date in college works for the DMV. I'm asking if she has access to their records on the weekend."

"You don't want to wait for Monday?" asked Dennis.

"I want to see what she can find out for me before then," Tyler said.

"Mostly what I need to know is what information the Department of Motor Vehicles will require to help identify the car. I assume that the vehicle identification number from the manufacturer is coded in some way to distinguish the characteristics of one vehicle versus another, such as a convertible versus a hardtop. Since I hope to be on the phone with Detroit first thing Monday morning, knowing what information to ask for in advance would speed things up for me."

"Makes sense," agreed Dennis. "Speaking of women you have dated, I haven't seen your smiling face in the tabloids or the entertainment news lately. You stop seeing Haley Simmons?"

Tyler was used to being teased about his relationship with the popular celebrity.

"Yes and no. I have been able to beg off most of the requests for me to accompany her to one event or another because I live down here now. I'm hoping that she'll find a permanent replacement for me so I will be off the hook for good."

"Yeah, it must be tough to have one of the prettiest faces in Hollywood share your bed."

Tyler laughed, "Don't be a pig. Haley is more like a sister to me than a girlfriend. We've never even had a French kiss."

"Well, make sure to let her know that if she needs an escort who would be willing to do more than hold her hand, I wouldn't mind fighting the traffic to get to her," Dennis said.

"Hey, if you're serious I will be more than happy to give her your number."

"If you're okay with it, I'm serious," Dennis said. "But what will you do to keep yourself occupied? Do you have someone else waiting in the wings?"

Tyler rose from his seat and picked up the data binder, "Does a date with two beautiful women tonight count?"

Dennis chuckled as he rose and picked up the remaining file tablets, "Well, aren't you the overachiever. How come I can't find two women willing to date me at the same time?"

"Well, I hoped to be dating only one of them, but her cousin is in town, so she is tagging along. I'm not sure that either of them actually considers it a date per se."

"A non-date date? How did you manage that?"

"They cooked dinner for me last night, so I offered to return the gesture by buying them dinner tonight," Tyler explained. "The one I want to date is the manager of the apartment that my sister is renting. You saw her last week when you picked me up because my car was being serviced."

"That nerdy looking girl on the bike? You've lived there for over a month. How come I'm just hearing about your interest in her now?" teased Dennis. "Maybe I should tag along with you tonight to keep the cousin company."

"I thought that you were interested in taking Haley off my hands," said Tyler after leaving enough money on the table to cover their coffee and a tip for the waitress.

"I'm a very giving and unselfish guy," chuckled Dennis. "I think I could help you with the cousin tonight and still have enough left to take Haley off your hands going forward. This cousin is presentable, isn't she? I didn't get a close enough look at your landlady to gauge how well she might clean up, so I can't use her as any kind of sample for the family."

Tyler reached his car before answering, "She is an absolute dream, everything you hear about in beautiful southern debutantes, plus one of the feistiest and most playful personalities I have ever encountered. I sense that she is a Southern Belle in public, but Southern Comfort behind closed doors. I have tonight covered, but if I ever need your help in the future, I'll let you know."

Dennis stood back to let Tyler open the door to his car and get in.

"You're going to have to tell me about your new neighbor in greater detail. If the cousin is as hot as you say, and you're putting her aside to date the other one, she must have something that I haven't seen."

"You have no idea," said Tyler. "Let's see how tonight goes before I get either of our hopes up. Talk to you Monday."

Chapter Six

"Are you sure that dress is a good idea?" asked Cile.

Katie smiled mischievously at her cousin in the dresser mirror as she adjusted the straps of the white Gothic Angel Dress. From the front, the straps looked like normal spaghetti-type straps in the flattering, satiny A-Line dress. The back of the straps had white feathers affixed to resemble angel wings over each of her shoulder blades. The hem of the dress that stopped about four inches above her knees and the long slit up the right side of her thigh made her legs appear to go from the ground into heaven itself.

"It will be fine," Katie assured her. "Again, who in their right mind would wear a dress that might bring the Shoreline Angel to the mind of the man investigating it if she was the person he was looking for. It's so 'in-your-face' that he would dismiss me being the woman he is looking for due simply to the blatant and bold image I presented to him. Plus, it makes me feel pretty, and I want to look pretty for Tyler and feel pretty for myself. You know how ugly we all feel while we are on our periods."

"Your mission will definitely be accomplished," Cile said.

She was wearing a dress that exaggerated the term 'little red dress'. It was form-fitting and left very little to the imagination, but somehow looked demure on her at the same time. Katie always wondered how her cousin could frequently present contradicting good/bad, naughty/nice imagery with the way that she would sometimes dress. Guys didn't know whether they were being promised something or being denied something when they looked at her.

"Anyway," Cile continued, "Tyler is definitely going to notice you in that dress. I trust your judgment as to whether or not he draws any inference between you and the Shoreline Angel by you wearing it."

"Isn't the point of us dressing to impress precisely because we want to be noticed?" asked Katie with a grin.

"That's always been my motivation," agreed Cile, "but you have never seemed interested in impressing anyone before. Don't you always say, 'If they don't like me the way I am, I don't want them'?"

Katie sighed, "I know, but I want to look good for Tyler. I think he will recognize the effort and appreciate it more than most guys. At least that's my read on him. What do you think?"

"Look at how I'm dressed!" said Cile. "I'm the freakin third wheel tonight and I'm still trying to impress the guy. Like you, I think he will appreciate the effort when he sees it."

They both turned at the sound of Katie's doorbell. Katie picked up her cell phone and checked her doorbell app.

"Tyler's here," she said, "and he looks 'hot'!"

"You go let him in," said Cile. "I just need to put on my jewelry and I'll be right out."

Katie quickly put on her platinum hoop earrings and walked out to the living room. She checked herself in the foyer mirror before opening the door. She had only applied a little mascara and lip gloss. As long as they weren't going someplace too dark or with artificial lighting to wash out her natural skin tone, she could usually do without makeup most of the time.

Tyler and Katie stood smiling and just staring at each other for a moment after she had opened her door.

"You look heavenly," he said, which caused her to smile even broader and step aside as encouragement for him to enter her condo.

He was wearing a grey linen suit with a pale blue button-down Oxford shirt. The top two buttons of the shirt were undone, which made his appearance casually formal if such a thing was even a style. It worked on Tyler though.

"Cile will be with us shortly," she said as she picked up a silver leather clutch purse that was hanging on the doorknob of the coat closet. It matched her silver leather sandals with two-inch heels perfectly. She continued smiling at both his appearance as well as his obvious appreciation for hers.

Without her glasses, her ice-blue eyes seemed more alive every time he saw them looking back at him. He yearned to study them, to delve into the tales that he knew he would find within them if he only had the opportunity to focus on her eyes long enough.

"Do you wear contacts when your glasses aren't on?" he asked her.

She smiled and said, "No, I have twenty-twenty vision. What you have seen me wear are safety glasses that I have neglected to take off after whatever I was doing that prompted me to put them on, such as working in my study lab upstairs. They don't affect my vision, so I usually forget that I have them on."

"Your eyes are beautiful," he told her. "On behalf of anyone who has ever looked into your eyes and everyone who will ever look into them in the future, thank you for protecting them."

She blushed at his compliment, which was a new experience for her. She had received compliments from men before, but none had touched her as significantly as this simple statement from Tyler had just done. He was just so attractive to her, and not just his physical appearance. She saw something in his eyes that she had never seen in another man. Something she could only describe as 'truth'. A truth meant just for her.

"In case I forget to mention it later," she said, "I am very proud to be seen with you."

"I just hope I have enough bullets to ward off all the guys who will want to fight me over you," he teased.

Katie giggled and asked, "Are you really armed?"

Tyler pulled on the left leg of his pants to partially expose the ankle holster underneath.

"I am required to carry whenever I am in public," he told her.

"Oh, I'm fine with it," she said. "A nine-millimeter?"

Tyler raised an eyebrow and said, "Yeah, a Beretta. You know guns?"

Katie thought about her answer and then said, "A bit. Growing up in Texas and all..."

"Katie said that you would be wearing casual slacks and a Hawaiian shirt," Cile said as she joined them.

She had accessorized the red dress by putting on a diamond solitaire pendant and earrings that resembled silver starfish with a small black orb in the middle of each. Tyler's dramatic gasp at the sight of her made both women laugh.

"I thought that I would invite you both to go dancing after dinner, so I decided to up my clothing game in case you agreed," he said.

Cile squealed, "Dancing! All we need now is a limo and this would be just like going to the prom."

Tyler laughed, "Actually, since I didn't want either of you lovely ladies to be forced to climb into the back seat of my Mustang, and I don't want to be the designated driver this evening, there is a limo waiting for us in the alley. Are you ladies ready?"

Katie handed Tyler a small remote control and asked, "Would you do the honors, Mr. Davis?"

Tyler chuckled and held the front door open for Cile and Katie to exit before closing it and pointing the remote lock control at the deadbolt.

"You better not let my mother hear you truncate my last name," he teased Katie as he handed her back her remote, "She's very proud of her maiden name..."

Katie fell into step behind Tyler, who followed Cile down the walkway to the alley.

"I'm sure that she is. However, I doubt that she considered how her pride would impact you or your sister should either of you get married. Your future wife, or your sister for that matter, could end up with double hyphenated last names if they chose to also retain their maiden name."

The walkway was over thirty inches wide, but with the palm fronds and other leaves or flowers hanging over from the planting beds that lined the walkway, there wasn't enough space for two people to walk side-by-side without brushing their clothes against the foliage. This resulted in the trio walking single-file and talking to each other over their shoulders.

"You're right," Tyler told Katie. "I am certain that my mother never would have considered that aspect of her naming scheme for either of her children, not that it would have mattered to her."

As soon as they had reached the alley and there was enough space around them, both of the women each looped one of their arms through one of Tyler's and walked beside him the few remaining steps to the waiting limo. The driver was holding the back door open for them, so Cile knelt slightly and stepped into the back, followed by Katie and finally Tyler.

Tyler smiled even wider when he got the first glance at the back of Katie's dress. The faux angel wings were impressive, but they were juxtaposed over the low-cut back of her dress that halted just before becoming naughty. The overall effect was amazing.

Although there was enough room on any of the seats for all three of them to sit together, the two women had chosen seats across from each other. He paused in the center of the limo, pondering whether he would prefer to sit next to Katie, or sit next to Cile so that he could gaze upon Katie's beauty as they drove. Katie seemed to sense his quandary when she reached over to take his hand and guide him to the spot next to her.

He was so focused upon the feel of her hand in his, the scent of her perfume, and the delicate straps of her dress across her shoulders that he didn't see Cile stick her tongue out at her cousin, or Katie sticking her own tongue out in response.

"How far are we going for dinner?" Cile asked.

Tyler tore his attention off Katie to look across at Cile, "The trip will take about twenty minutes. The restaurant is on top of a hill in Orange. We have time for a drink if you ladies would like one."

"I can wait," said Katie, "but feel free if you want something."

"I will be flying in less than fifteen hours," said Cile. "I need to abstain from alcohol this evening, but don't let that stop you, Tyler,"

Tyler stared at Cile while her statement sunk in. The only reason he could imagine that someone flying would need to abstain from alcohol for so many hours before their flight was if they were the pilot.

"What is your rating?" he asked her.

"If you mean what types of aircraft do I fly," answered Cile, "Katie and I are both multi-engine certified. Tomorrow I will be flying a Baron G58. Do you fly?"

Tyler glanced at Katie and saw that she was paying close attention to the conversation.

"You're a licensed pilot too?" he asked her.

She simply nodded and waited for him to answer Cile's question.

"I am instrument rated on single-engines only," he said. "I was thinking about going after my jet certification if my dad follows through with his plans to join a shared ownership agreement on a Lear. Do you own or rent when you fly?"

Cile just laughed and shook her finger at Tyler.

"Not an appropriate question," Katie whispered in his ear. "That's kind of like asking someone how much they get paid."

Before he could respond, Katie shifted in her seat, released Tyler's hand, and opened her purse. She withdrew her cell phone and checked the screen, "I'm sorry I need to take this. I'm on call this weekend."

Tyler didn't respond, but couldn't avoid hearing Katie's side of the conversation.

"Hello. Yes, this is Doctor Brandt..."

He noted the professionalism in her tone and calm authoritative directions to the person she was speaking with. The conversation was short, and Katie was replacing the cell phone into her purse in less than a minute.

"I apologize," she said to Tyler as she took his hand in hers once more. To Cile, she said, "Someone brought a bat into the shelter thinking it was injured and needed care. The staff suspects rabies and wanted instructions."

"That's why you told them to contact the county health department," Cile said. "Any risk of exposure to the person who brought it in or other animals?"

"We're not certain, but they have the person there still and are requesting they wait for the health department to come over. They'll have the contact details for them if they decide not to wait and the health department can follow up with them."

"I thought you were working on your doctorate in molecular biology," said Tyler. "Have you already graduated?"

Katie turned slightly to look at him and said, "I defend my dissertation for that degree next month. This relates to my other degree. I already have a DVM from Texas A&M University and volunteer as one of the weekend veterinarians at the Orange County Humane Society shelter."

"So, you will soon be 'Doctor Doctor Katie Brandt," teased Cile.

"Are you as much of an overachiever as your cousin?" Tyler asked Cile. "What superpowers do you possess?"

Cile giggled and said, "I'm just a lowly Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service."

"Really?" he said with a sincere smile back at her. "That actually sounds quite interesting. What do you do for them, Lieutenant?"

"I work as an investigator of government-contracted labs. Someone needs to make certain that they follow the rules on research projects."

"Maybe we can compare notes on investigative techniques sometime," he offered.

"Don't let her modesty fool you," said Katie. "My gorgeous cousin has her own doctorate in microbiology and leads a joint task force of agents from the FBI and DHS charged with oversight of research protocols, including biomedical research at all military treatment facilities worldwide. Her team ensures compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and Department of Defense policies governing the ethical treatment of human subjects in research, and investigating allegations of research misconduct. Just last month they closed down a major pharmaceutical company in New Jersey that was attempting to sell dangerous pathogens to several Middle Eastern countries."

Cile was visibly blushing on the seat across from them, but she didn't dispute anything that Katie had told Tyler.

"What about you?" asked Tyler to Katie. "How do you intend to use your superpowers for the benefit of man and womankind? Are you going to open a veterinary practice?"

The limo was pulling up outside a restaurant, so Katie squeezed his hand and told him, "I promise that I'll tell you my life plans later. It looks like we've reached our destination."

The driver holding the car door open and everyone else in front of the Orange Hill Restaurant were entranced by the two beautiful women that Tyler was escorting to the entrance. Katie and Cile smiled at the attention they were attracting until they saw the photographers standing off to the side of the walkway leading to the restaurant from the parking lot. In unison, they increased their pace to get Tyler moving them into the restaurant quicker.

There was a small crowd of around a dozen people waiting to be seated when Tyler gave his name to the hostess. She immediately led the trio to a reserved table on the western-facing outside deck where they would have an unobstructed view of the looming sunset. He pulled out one of the four chairs at their table for Cile, who took her seat while Katie surveyed the surrounding hillsides and other vantage points that someone might use to observe the diners on this deck. When Tyler pulled a chair out for her, she didn't sit as Cile had done.

"I think I'll make a visit to the ladies' room before dinner," she told him. "Please take a seat and I'll be right back."

Cile made no move to indicate that she had an interest in accompanying Katie, so Tyler just asked, "Would you like me to order you something to drink?"

Kissing him quickly on the cheek and turning towards the entrance back into the restaurant, she said, "Surprise me."

Tyler chuckled as he took a chair at the table that would place him between Cile and Katie once she returned. He faced west, looking out over the landscape beyond, and didn't see Katie pull her cell phone out of her purse while she was barely inside the restaurant.

"What's your idea of the right woman for you, Tyler?"

He looked at Cile, trying to gauge whether she was asking a serious question or not. He decided that she was being serious, so he thought about his answer for a few seconds before answering.

"I have never considered what the right woman is for me. I believe it is my responsibility to focus on trying to be the right man for the one woman that is right for me."

"Good answer," Cile said as they were approached by their waitress.

Tyler encouraged Cile to place her drink order first, and she requested iced tea.

"What do you think I should order for Katie?" he asked her.

"No deal, Buster. She told you to surprise her, so I'm staying out of it."

He thought about it for only a few seconds before ordering him and Katie each a Tequila Sunrise. He was gratified to see Cile smiling at his choice and he hoped that this foretold of Katie's pleasure as well.

Cile waited until the waitress had departed to continue the conversation, "Tyler, you seem like a really great guy, but I have to tell you, I am surprised that Katie is interested in you."

"Thanks. I think. Why would Katie being interested in me be a surprise? Hopefully, my interest in her is obvious to both of you."

"I'm not talking out of school when I tell you that Katie has exceptionally high expectations where relationships are concerned. If she ever shares with you the story of her parents' love you will understand. For now, just keep on being the gentleman that you have shown yourself to be and I think my cousin will continue to open up over time. Knowing the example set for her by her parents, if you give Katie half a chance, and you respond to the love that I know she is capable of showing, things could go very right for the two of you."

Tyler was just about to respond when he saw Katie approaching over Cile's shoulder. He stood to pull a chair out for her and kept his eyes on the beautiful vision that she presented as her graceful radiance moved toward him. Every eye in the restaurant was on her as she kissed Tyler on the cheek once more before taking the seat he was offering her.

"I missed you," Tyler told her as he took his seat again. "I have realized that there is a difference in the very air that surrounds me whenever you're not around."

Katie stared at him with a shocked expression on her face. How was Tyler getting into her head to know that she had been thinking almost the same thought about how she felt when he wasn't around?

"I missed you too," she whispered to him. Then in a louder voice, she asked, "Didn't my gorgeous cousin take your mind off me, even for a little while?"

"Get serious," Cile said. "I could never be more than a minor distraction to any guy who had his eyes on you, and Tyler has eyes only for you. Right, Tyler?"

Chuckling at the two cousins, he said, "You are the most beautiful and pleasant distraction I have ever faced, Cile. I am looking forward to dancing with you both. Now, why don't you ladies study your menus for a few minutes to decide on what you would like to eat."

Neither picked up their menu, but replied in unison, "Surprise us."

"You want me to order for you?" Tyler asked as he looked from Katie to Cile. He received a nod in reply from each.

"We realize that you don't know us that well yet," Katie told him. "That's why letting you order for us will tell us more about you than testing what you know about us."

"There are no wrong choices," Cile assured him. "We'll eat almost anything. Most guys would play it safe and order us something like a salad, or maybe try to impress us by ordering lobster or some other expensive item. We want to see what you choose."

He smiled at both of them and offered a hand to each, which they accepted.

"I love the challenges that you two present me, and the stimulation that results from them."

When the waitress set the beautifully garnished Tequila Sunrise in front of Katie, Tyler thought that he saw a tear forming in her eye. Her smile of approval told him that he had made at least one right choice so far this evening. He perused his menu again, although he thought that he already knew what he would order for all of them to share. He sensed that they would appreciate sharing items amongst the three of them rather than having separate meals of their own.

When he ordered two large racks of barbequed beef ribs, onion rings, and side salads for the three of them, Katie had to resist the urge to crawl into Tyler's lap and rain kisses all over his face. Cile just sat shaking her smiling face in approval and watching her cousin fall deeper for this guy.

Several people sitting on the deck were leaving their seats and moving to the side of the deck that faced the parking lot of the restaurant. Apparently, there was some commotion in the parking lot that was drawing the attention of the restaurant patrons.

"Excuse me, ladies. I'm going to go see what's going on," Tyler said as he rose from his seat and walked into the restaurant.

"Who did you call?" asked Cile.

"The operations center," said Katie. "No sense bothering either of our fathers over this."

"You've got Tyler hooked in case you didn't know it," Cile said to change the subject.

Katie just got a dreamy smile on her face and replied, "I've never met anyone like him. He just keeps getting better."

"Well, maybe he turns into a toad at midnight and you can go back to being a nun."

Katie laughed, "A nun is definitely not what I want to be around Tyler. Quiet now, here he comes."

They let him take his seat before Cile asked, "What's going on?"

"Apparently the photographers took some pictures of someone that they shouldn't have. There are several Secret Service agents out in the parking lot confiscating all their cameras and other equipment. I don't know who it might have been, and the agents wouldn't tell me, but they were definitely serious about making sure that no pictures of the person got out."

"Some politician or foreign diplomat?" Katie asked.

"The Secret Service would typically only be involved if it was someone that they were responsible for protecting, such as a member of the first family," explained Tyler. "Even Senators and Congressmen have Capitol Police protection and not the Secret Service, but it could be some high-ranking official from another country I suppose."

"Not a celebrity?" asked Cile.

"No chance. The paparazzi have almost unrestricted rights to photograph celebrities in public places. In fact, I was assuming that there would be pictures of me escorting the two of you in one of the tabloids tomorrow," Tyler admitted.

"Why? We're not celebrities," said Cile.

"No, but I have been dating Haley Simmons, so seeing me with two other beautiful women and not her would start rumors that the tabloids would rush to print."

"I thought that the two of you were just friends," said Katie teasingly.

"We are," said Tyler, "but that is never reported when pictures of us together at one event or another get published. They don't have us engaged or anything like that, but they do infer that we have been a couple. Since Haley and her publicist have done nothing to dispel the rumors, they have persisted. I wouldn't have minded having pictures of you two and me getting published since that might have forced Haley's hand where her and I are concerned. Convince her to tell the world that we are not a couple at least."

"You could do a lot worse than Haley Simmons," Katie said.

Tyler took her hand and kissed it, "I could also do a whole lot better."

~~~

"If that beautiful woman over there wasn't so into you, and you so into her," said Cile, "you would get very, very lucky tonight."

Her arms were wrapped around his neck and her body pressed against his as they stood together in the living room of Katie's condo. Tyler had his hands placed gently on her hips, so they were positioned similarly to how they had been during several dances at the club he had taken them to after dinner.

"You are quite the little temptress," he told her after planting a quick kiss on her forehead.

Cile and Katie had caught every eye in the club as soon as they had entered. Katie had been holding Tyler's hand, essentially claiming him as her date, while Cile had kept her arm looped through his other as she was escorted by him to their booth. She sat opposite Katie and Tyler, and wouldn't accept an offer to dance from anyone unless the man had first asked Tyler for his permission. Katie made things easier for the other men by simply declining all their offers for her to dance.

Tyler had taken them to a club where all the songs were selected by the customers from digital tablets at each of the booths. They had agreed to select songs in secret that they thought the person that they wanted to slow dance with would prefer. They danced together as a threesome to fast songs selected by other customers.

Tyler only had to select a few songs for Cile and him to slow dance to, but she had told him that his selections had been perfect for her. His selections for Katie brought a tear to her eye every time they danced to one. Katie only had to select songs that she thought Tyler would like, which she had found surprisingly easy to do. She focused on the songs that she would like for him to like and he never disappointed her.

Cile was very popular on the dance floor. Her body and face naturally drew men to her, and her tantalizing moves while dancing kept her the focus of everyone. She only had two offers for slow dances and both of those ended badly for the men who each had ventured a little too far with their hands while holding her.

"Before we say goodnight," he said when their embrace ended, "tell me about the accidents that you caused with your two dance partners."

Cile laughed and nodded to her cousin who was leaning against her kitchen counter as she unstrapped her shoes. Katie didn't feel the slightest twinge of jealousy as she watched her cousin and Tyler interacting. Tyler had made her very confident of her role in his life tonight.

From the moment she had opened her front door for him, he had made her feel 'adored'. That's a feeling that she had not experienced since she was a little girl and her older brother had carried her around on his shoulders and doted on her every wish or desire. Not that she hadn't been just as loved and protected in later years, but there was something special about being the singular focus of someone, which is how Tyler had made her feel.

Reflecting on their evening, she wondered how Tyler had managed to make her feel so much like the center of his world, while still being courteous and attentive to everyone around them. She knew that Cile had never lacked for his attention, and his respect for all the staff, at first the restaurant and then the club had been nothing short of amazing.

"I'll let Katie explain it to you if she wants to. Thank you for such a wonderful evening, Tyler. I can't thank you enough for including me."

"The pleasure was all mine, Cile. I look forward to seeing you again real soon. Have sweet dreams and safe travels tomorrow."

Cile stood on her tiptoes to give Tyler a peck on his lips, "Good night, Tyler."

To her cousin, she said, "Don't stay up too late if you want to catch me in the morning before I leave."

Katie carried her shoes in her hand as she walked over to give Cile a hug.

"Like Tyler said, 'sweet dreams'. I'll be up in time to have breakfast with you."

Cile turned and walked to the stairs leading to the guest bedroom while Tyler and Katie stood next to each other in the living room watching her.

"Well, I should probably head out and let you get some sleep too," said Tyler.

"Please stay for a while," Katie implored. "I'm going to need some time to unwind before I could even think about sleep and I would like to do it with you here."

When he made no move to leave, she took him by the hand and led them to the couch. She took a seat and pulled him down beside her.

"Why are you so wound up now?" Tyler asked. "You seemed pretty relaxed this evening."

He saw Katie start to rub one of her feet and slid off the couch to sit on the floor in front of her. Without asking, he took the foot that she had been rubbing and began to massage it for her.

"You doing things like this is why I am so wound up," she moaned as his hands and fingers expertly melted the soreness out of her foot.

"Do you want me to stop?" he teased, knowing the answer by her continuing moans of pleasure. He shifted the coffee table to the right and leaned back against the base of the couch. Upon seeing his movements, Katie spread her legs so that he could sit between them and placed one leg over each of his shoulders. She pushed down the hem of her dress between her legs, but the slit in her dress left her right thigh almost totally exposed. With her calves dangling over his chest, Tyler was able to rub each foot with a different hand, continuing to elicit an occasional moan from her as he found and massaged a tender location.

"You're amazing," she said. "You know that Cile is very attracted to you, and you also know that she isn't the only one."

"Cile is adorable," he said, "but I only have desires for her cousin."

"Desires, huh? Do tell."

He leaned his head back between her legs and looked at her upside-down face smiling back at him.

"From the day at the car show, I have had a desire such as I have never known before, and I'm still trying to understand it myself."

"What's to understand? I have absolutely no qualms about being desirable to you."

He chuckled and raised his head again before saying, "Well you're definitely that, but this is much more than physical desire. I am coming to realize that you are making me desire to be the type of man that would deserve a woman like you. I am more in tune with you and your actions than I can ever remember being with anyone else. It is almost like a biological need I have to share things with you. You're the molecular biologist, maybe you can help me understand it."

She laughed that sultry laugh that Tyler was becoming so enamored with, "I can't explain my own desires towards you, so don't even go there."

They sat quietly for several minutes contemplating what each had confessed to the other. Tyler would occasionally move one of his hands up to massage around the heel of each foot, followed by the ankle and lower calf. The comforting warmth and pressure from his hands brought something to her mind.

"It's called LI eight point five," she finally said.

Tyler paused in his massage until she pushed against his hand with her foot urging him to continue.

"You've lost me," he told her.

Speaking almost in a whisper, with her head leaning against the back of the couch and her eyes closed, she said, "The pressure point on the arm that Cile used. It is located about two inches below the crook of a man's elbow, between the Large Intestine eight and Large Intestine nine pressure points. If the correct pressure is applied properly to the spot, it will relax the muscles around the bladder and urethra that control a person's ability to hold their urine in."

Tyler chuckled as he moved to her other foot without objection, "Where did you two learn that little trick?"

"My mom taught us. I assume that she learned it originally from my father."

Katie giggled and continued, "She told us that the rules in every nightclub were the same as in preschool. You pee your pants and you must go home. Young ladies learn quickly that they can't rely upon a bouncer in a nightclub to protect their virtue, so my mom taught Cile and me how to do it on our own."

"Your mom sounds like someone I would like to meet," he said. Then he added with a chuckle, "Maybe not in a dark alley..."

Katie had an almost wistful lilt to her voice when she said, "I think my mom would like you. No guarantees where my father is concerned."

"I've met my share of over-protective fathers. I'm sure I could win your dad over."

Her laugh lasted for several minutes, causing her legs to bounce on his shoulders, which made continuing the foot massage impossible. He lifted her right leg and scooted over so that he could stand up and then sit beside her on the couch. As her laughter dissipated, she wrapped her arms around Tyler's left bicep and leaned her head onto his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but you have no idea how funny your statement was, and I hope that you never find out. Suffice it to say, my father takes protecting his family to a level that you have never seen, and few people can even imagine. Hang on, let me show you something."

Without waiting for a response, Katie quickly disentangled herself from Tyler on the couch and headed upstairs. She returned a few moments later with a red-colored file tablet, which she handed to him.

"There's probably more in there than you will want to read tonight, but based upon what you do for a living, I think that you'll be able to form a conclusion on my father just by perusing a bit of it. Take a look while I check on Sinbad."

Tyler was curious, so he opened the tablet. The first screen image he saw gave him a jolt. The Standard Form 86 staring back at him was a screen capture of the electronic version of the 'Questionnaire for National Security Positions'. Someone had completed the form online from the information that Taylor had provided when they applied to rent the condo next door, but it contained additional details that he knew were not on the forms his sister had submitted. The form listed exhaustive details about everywhere he had lived, worked, studied, and traveled, as well as names of references, neighbors, and family members. Interviews with several former neighbors, classmates, and co-workers were documented on subsequent pages, as was an in-depth report on his financial history and current investment portfolio. It even verified that he was not registered as a level one sex offender anywhere in the country.

This fact didn't seem as strange as it once might have. Under Chief Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the United States Supreme Court had finally applied some constitutional logic and consistency to its rulings.

Selecting to hear cases that revisited some of the most contentious "rights" issues, the Court firmly upheld the constitutional rights of American citizens, but they also reaffirmed in their rulings that all Constitutional rights came with responsibilities. The Court consistently ruled that it was well within the powers of the Federal government, or the States, to effectively 'tax' individual rights by establishing fair and equitable legal consequences for when those rights were abused.

The First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech had a long history of restrictions covering things like slander, threats, or words that incited violence. The Second Amendment had restrictions on the types of guns that Americans had the right to 'bear', and Court rulings further empowered the States to establish a legal cost to individuals for irresponsible gun ownership where they did not keep their weapons secured and allowed them to be used improperly.

Where abortion was concerned, the Court upheld the famous Roe versus Wade decision from the previous century guaranteeing a woman the right to have an abortion but applied similar constitutional logic to that right by stating that while States could not prevent a woman from having an abortion, they could establish fair and equitable legal consequences for abuse of that right.

Being the most liberal and progressive state in the country, California had simply established that any woman who sought an abortion must identify who the alleged biological father was and agree to a DNA test on the fetus. The man named by the woman as the biological father had to either accept responsibility for having unprotected sex with the woman and register as a level one sex offender or provide his own DNA to prove that he was not the biological father. If he was successful in proving his innocence, the woman would be required to register as a level one sex offender.

Tyler was gratified that the investigators had determined that he would be eligible for a Top-Secret national security clearance when they were finished. Something denied to sex offenders at any level.

He closed the tablet and looked over his shoulder to watch Katie just finishing with giving her jerboa another cricket. She smiled when she saw him watching her and walked to stand behind him on the couch. She placed her hands on his head and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

"Your dad compiled that report?" he asked as she continued to feel his hair running between her fingers.

"He didn't do it himself, but he did have it done. And remember, that investigation was done when he was only concerned about you living next door to me. What do you think he would have done if he thought that you would be getting romantically involved with his only daughter?"

"Am I getting romantically involved with his only daughter?" teased Tyler.

"I certainly hope so," Katie said as she knelt and kissed him on the forehead. "Sleep with me tonight."

"I think that can be arranged," he said as he stood and joined her behind the couch. Placing a hand on either side of her face, he gave her a quick, chaste kiss on the lips.

Smiling at his agreement, Katie took each of his lapels into her hands and slid his coat off his shoulders. "Please take off your shirt."

"Can I go home first and get a few things?"

"You can go home after you give me your shirt. While you're getting ready over there, I will get ready here, and I'll need something to wear while we're sleeping. Your shirt will do just fine, thank you."

He started to unbutton his shirt and asked, "You don't have any pajamas or nightgowns to wear?"

She tossed his coat onto the couch, brushed his hands aside, and took over unbuttoning his shirt, "Nope. I normally sleep au natural, but I'll make an exception for you tonight."

Tyler had known from the second that she had asked him to sleep with her that it was meant as an opportunity for them to earn a higher degree of trust in one another. There was never any intention derived from her offer for them to have sex, but it would allow them to share an intimacy that they both knew would bring them closer to the 'couple' that appeared to be their destiny. Although he wondered just how much sleep either of them would get tonight.

When she had finished with all the buttons on the front of his shirt, she unfastened each sleeve in turn. Staring into his eyes, Katie slowly pulled the tail of the shirt free from the waistband of his pants. She kept her eyes locked on his as she slowly lowered the shirt off his shoulders and pulled it off him completely. Bringing it to her face, she buried her nose in the fabric to smell his scent on it before leaning down and picking his coat up from the couch and handing it to him.

"How long will it take for you to scurry home and get ready for our slumber party?" she asked while openly admiring his bare chest.

"I'll just throw on some shorts and a T-shirt, brush my teeth and be right back."

"You can brush your teeth here," she told him. "I have a spare toothbrush and you can use one of my bathroom sinks while I use the other. So, just change for bed and meet me in my bedroom. I'll leave the front door unlocked for you. Lock it on your way back in."

Tyler traced the back of his fingers down her cheek and across one of her shoulders, eliciting a small gasp from her at his touch. "I'll be right back."

As soon as Tyler had closed the front door behind himself, Katie ran into her bedroom, carrying his shirt with her. She cursed the time it took to remove her dress with enough care not to damage the faux wings, but once it was off and hung in her closet, all she had to remove were the silicon petals that she had covering her nipples before slipping Tyler's shirt on and quickly buttoning it. She bent her head to once again smell his scent on the fabric while rolling each sleeve halfway up her forearms. She quickly pulled her panties down and tossed them into her hamper on her way to her bathroom to wash her face.

When she closed her eyes to rinse the soap from her face, she saw a mental image of Tyler leaving his condo and walking across the courtyard toward her front door. As the image showed him reaching her door, she heard it open. Was she getting some sort of extrasensory perception where Tyler was concerned? She knew that she had sensed him having the ability to almost read her mind on several occasions, especially tonight when he ordered their meal and then when he was one hundred percent accurate in selecting the songs that she wanted to dance to.

Drying her face as she stepped out of the bathroom, she greeted Tyler when he walked into her bedroom. She wasn't surprised to see him wearing the powder blue UCLA gym shorts and a white T-shirt that she had seen in her mind. She was surprised when he once again seemed to read her mind when he pulled the T-shirt off and tossed it onto the top of her dresser.

"How do you do that?" she asked in astonishment.

"Do what?"

"Read my mind like that. How did you know I would prefer that you not sleep in your T-shirt?"

He smiled and said, "I'll tell you later. You mentioned something about a spare toothbrush?"

She just shook her head and smiled, "Come on in. I was just getting ready to brush my own teeth. We can do it together if you're okay with that."

He walked into the bathroom to join her, thinking, "I just hope it is only the first of many times that we have the opportunity to brush our teeth together."

He said aloud, "By the way, my shirt looks wonderful on you."

Katie handed him a brand-new toothbrush and her toothpaste tube, "Thank you. I think so too."

He unwrapped the toothbrush from its package while watching her prepare her toothbrush in her reflection in the mirror.

"Keep it," he told her.

She smiled back at him in the mirror and said, "Oh, I intend to."

They both focused on the reflection of the other as they stood at separate sinks brushing their teeth. His smile in response to hers was often so big that he had to wait for his mouth to relax enough to allow him to brush.

When she had finished, Katie tossed her hand towel to him, "Do you have to do anything else before coming to bed with me?"

Handing the towel back to her, he said, "No, I took care of my business while I was home."

"Good, then if you'll excuse me for a minute, I will be right out to join you. Feel free to wait for me in the bed."

She blew him a kiss and then closed the door between the bathroom and the bedroom. Tyler picked up his discarded T-shirt, folded it, and laid it back on top of her dresser.

He stood at the foot of the bed examining the tables on either side, trying to determine which side of the bed Katie preferred, but he saw nothing that would give him direction. Both had table lamps on and illuminated, but nothing else on them.

This room was a mirror image of the master bedroom in his and Taylor's condo, which his sister had claimed for herself. In Katie's case, the right side of the bed was closer to the window and door to the living room and the left side was closer to the bathroom. He decided to take the right side so that Katie would be closer to the bathroom. He folded the comforter down and propped the pillows on that side of the bed up higher against the headboard. He was sitting on the right edge of the bed checking his cell phone when the bathroom door opened.

With a silent smile on her face, she turned off the bathroom light and walked directly to the left side of the bed.

"Meet you in the middle," she whispered as she too propped up the pillows on her side, turned off the lamp, and crawled under the sheet. Tyler swung his legs up onto the bed, scooted them under the sheet, and then turned off the lamp on his side before shifting to the middle of the bed where Katie awaited him.

When their bodies met in the middle of the bed, Tyler instinctively said, "Lean forward a second."

Katie did as Tyler requested, which allowed him to reposition the pillows behind her so that she could lie on them rather than sitting up and leaning against them. He did the same with his pillows and they both scooted further into the bed to align their heads with their respective pillows. Katie rolled onto her right side to watch Tyler simultaneously roll onto his left side, positioning them face to face, smiling at each other.

"I've never slept with a girl before," he told her. "I mean just sleep."

"Then we're even because I've never slept with a boy before."

"You don't mean..." he questioned.

Katie giggled and said, "No, I don't mean that I have never had sex. I have had a few encounters, but they were all simply physical release events if you know what I mean, and most of those were not satisfying for me. I meant that I have never slept with someone with, or without sex being involved."

"Then I like your idea for us to sleep together tonight even better," he said. "Who would want to have sex with someone that they couldn't get a good night's sleep next to?"

She smacked his chest playfully and said, "You know, or at least you should know, that the slightest incentive from you and I would succumb to anything you wanted from me. My desire for you is that intense, but I think we both realize that doing so would confuse things for us right now Plus, my period started this morning."

"I feel the same way," he said as he brushed a strand of hair from over her right eye so that he could gaze into both at the same time.

"Lust is too simplistic for all that I feel for you. It's definitely one of the things I feel, but very minor compared to other things."

"Other things like what?"

He laughed and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but the strongest feeling I can identify is confusion. Everything about you is so different than anything I have ever experienced with another person, let alone a beautiful, intelligent woman. I don't understand why I can sense things with you when I have never been able to with anyone else. Ever."

To his surprise, Katie didn't appear shocked or bothered by his revelation. She continued smiling at him warmly when she said, "If you remember when we came here after the car show, I asked about your study of behavioral science. I realized later that this was because I had sensed your sensing me that day. It didn't concern me then, and it doesn't concern me now. In fact, it is one of the things about you that has allowed me to open up with you in a way that I have never done with anyone outside my family. I can do that because I am coming to trust you, which is also why you are in my bed under these conditions."

"Do you trust me enough to snuggle with me for a while?"

She pulled his left arm away from his body and positioned herself against him. He wrapped his arm around her body and pulled her close enough for her to rest her head on his shoulder. He began running his fingers through the hair on her head as she played with the hairs on his chest.

"We need to be careful spooning," she whispered into his chest. "Being dead asleep won't stop me from having my way with you if I feel your arousal against me tonight. I don't think any woman is that strong."

Tyler laughed and said, "I only respond to you. I make no guarantees relative to my arousal if you can't behave yourself. However, where spooning is concerned, why don't we limit it to you spooning against my back?"

"You realize of course that that would leave my hands free to roam the front of your body."

Tyler chuckled and rolled onto his right side so that Katie could spoon with his back, "Well, in case you hadn't picked up on it, I trust you too."

"Not so fast Buster," she said as she pulled on his shoulder to roll him onto his back. "For someone who has proven himself so perceptive of my wants and needs, you're neglecting something significant, don't you think?"

He stared up at her with a smile, "Why Miss Brandt, I have no idea what you mean..."

Ignoring their earlier concerns related to physical positioning, Katie rolled on top of his body and placed the tip of her nose against his. The pressure of her soft, warm body had the natural effect that women have had on men since creation and he fought to control his body's response.

Katie quickly took mercy by sliding her body below their waists off him, leaving just her shirt-clad chest on top of his, and their faces still nose to nose. She didn't realize that her distended nipples through the fabric of the shirt were still presenting him with stimulation that challenged her trust in him.

"You must be tired, so I'll let it slide this time," she whispered against his lips. "Where's my goodnight kiss?"

Tyler brought his hands to either side of her face, primarily because he didn't trust where they might wander if he didn't, and pulled her lips fully against his. Katie might not have had a lot of sexual experience, but that was certainly not evident from the way that her lips took control of their first real kiss.

He had never felt as much need and passion in a kiss, and he tried to give as good as he was receiving. The most interesting aspect for him was that the kiss was not arousing physically for him. As their lips nibbled and explored one another, Tyler had an image of high school chemistry, where they would often watch two different chemicals in liquid form coalesce when mixed. The merging of the two distinctly different chemicals wouldn't always produce a visible reaction, and understanding the invisible reactions were the types of challenges that he enjoyed.

Katie slowly decelerated the kiss until their lips were barely touching. Her whispered words were the only contact now between their lips.

"Best if we don't push the limits tonight."

She rose off his body, propped her head with her right hand and caressed his face with her left. Tyler simply laid there smiling up at the soft candlelight that he saw in her eyes and her contented smile.

Tyler was now convinced in his heart that there were no limits for the two of them.

Chapter Seven

"Thank you, but I think any mystery that existed is lost now," Katie said in a groggy voice, her eyes barely open.

She was responding to Tyler pulling the tail of his 'former' shirt down to cover her naked and exposed derriere when he had gotten out of bed to use the bathroom. His stirring had brought her to a semi-awake state, but the feel of him repositioning her garment made her consciously smile at his attempt to protect her modesty.

Based upon what other women had told her about guys first thing in the morning, she suspected that Tyler might have a morning erection as he walked past her to the bathroom, she had attempted in kind to protect his modesty by keeping her eyes closed, feigning sleep until his return to bed.

When Tyler did lay back on the bed, he positioned himself on his side facing her, "You are a beautiful sight in the morning."

"Are you referring to my face or my butt?" she asked with a grin.

"If I had to choose, and I hope I never have to, I would go with your face. Your freckles outshine your tan lines and your eyes outshine the sun."

She brushed her hand against the stubble on his cheek, "I'm going to enjoy having you in my life more and more. You're fun to be with. Can you excuse me for a few minutes?"

"If I must," he said, knowing the reason for her needing to excuse herself.

Katie rolled over and stood beside the bed with her back to him as she raised her arms to stretch. Tyler watched her back as the tail of the shirt rose, but it never exposed more to him that the higher portions of her thighs.

Katie sensed him watching her, and a grin spread across her face. She took two steps towards the bathroom door before reaching back to pull the tail of the shirt up, exposing her bare derriere to him once again. She held it up until she reached the bathroom door when she let it drop.

"See, no mystery anymore," she said with a smile back at him. "I'll be right back."

Tyler chuckled and rolled onto his back. Katie's derriere was callipygian. It was the kind of butt that men looked at, and then looked again, every chance they got.

It wasn't until he saw Cile standing in the doorway that he realized that they had left the door to the living room open all night. She looked tousled and groggy, but as beautiful as ever in the light blue satin robe she was wearing. She had it tied shut in a manner that had it clinging tightly to every curve of her body, and there were just the right amount of those to go around.

"I thought that I heard Katie talking to someone," Cile said with a smile. "I'm going to kick her butt for not inviting me to your little slumber party."

"It was kind of an impromptu thing," Tyler tried to explain.

Cile raised a hand to stop his explanation and said in her patented seductive voice, "It's obvious that nothing happened other than you two sharing a bed to sleep in, so I don't think I missed much. You, on the other hand, might have missed a lot."

Keeping her eyes locked on his, she placed her hands on the knotted belt around the robe and pulled it apart so that both ends fell to the side of the robe. She made a show of slowly opening the robe to teasingly reveal what lay beneath it. Tyler was not surprised when all that Cile's teasing revealed was a matching jersey shirt and shorts outfit with a Disney character on both.

"What makes you think that we only slept together and didn't do anything else?" he asked her.

Giggling, she said, "Because anyone who has seen the two of you together would know that when you finally make love to each other, it will be like divine providence revealing itself to the world. The skies will all have rainbows, Unicorns will once again inhabit the Earth, or there will be some other clear sign that all is now right with the world. Plus, it would be so obvious on both of your faces. You don't have the look of someone who just made love to your soul mate for the first time."

"I don't know her well enough to decide if she is my soul mate or not, so don't you think that you're being presumptuous?"

Cile just smiled and began to pull the door closed behind her, "I'm going to go start the coffee. Tell Katie not to dawdle."

Tyler laid there watching the door close, thinking about his conversation with Cile for a few minutes and the jolt of reality that it had presented him. Katie opened the bathroom door and ran back to the bed to join him. She crawled next to him and laid her head on his bare chest.

"I heard Cile, but I couldn't hear what she was saying," Katie said. "Was she surprised to see you here?"

"She didn't appear to be too surprised. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When is your birthday?"

Katie hesitated a few seconds before asking, "Why do you want to know. I mean do you want a month, day and year to determine how old I am, just the month and day so you can buy me a present, or something else?"

Tyler ran his fingers through her hair and said, "Truthfully, I am just wondering whether or not you would tell me or if you still thought that the question was too personal to share with me."

Katie considered her response. She knew that one major component required for an investigation into someone was their date of birth. Even if Tyler had just the date and month, she knew that them being the same approximate age would allow him to narrow hers down easily enough. She wasn't afraid that he would find out anything about her since her father had always kept public records of her and JR restricted, but if he tried and saw the restricted access on her records, that would not be good.

"My birthday is the day after Cile's. We were born exactly twenty-five hours apart."

She felt the sigh in the movement of his chest before he spoke, "And Cile's birthday is one day before yours. Got it."

Katie started stroking his chest in earnest, trying to make him feel her trust in him, but in her heart, she knew that she was failing. She finally rolled over and sat up beside him and took his hand in hers. They could see their reflection in the mirror over the dresser and both just stared at the other in it.

"I thought that you liked a challenge," she said

"One gauge of intelligence," he said, "is being able to distinguish between a challenge and a lost cause. I don't know how intelligent it would be for me to continue with this particular challenge."

He made certain that her eyes were on his in the mirror before continuing, "You've stolen my heart, Katie. True, I was a willing victim, and you have never made any secret of your penchant for privacy, but I had hoped that I could win your trust eventually..."

"You just spent the night alone with me in my bed," she exclaimed. "How can you even begin to think that I don't trust you? I trust you more than any man I have ever known outside of my family."

She reached over and turned his head so that they were looking at each other face to face instead of in the mirror.

"Tyler, it is you who has stolen my heart. I want to share everything about myself with you. I want to share every hour of the day with you. You need to understand that knowing too much about me right now, or God forbid you tried to find things out about me from some other source would not be a good thing, for either of us."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand..."

She took his face in both of her hands and began kissing every spot on it she could reach before Tyler pulled away.

"Katie, at some point you are going to realize that I have a vested interest in knowing everything about you. You could do real damage to me if I get much more entangled into your web without knowing who you are. I'll be dreaming of a future with you without even knowing what you want for yours. That scenario has heartbreak written all over it. I'm sorry, but that's not fair to either of us."

Tyler swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. He could see that Katie had tears forming in her eyes through the reflection in the mirror when he retrieved his T-shirt from the dresser and pulled it on over his head. He put his cell phone and keys into the pocket of his shorts.

"Thank you for a memorable evening," he said as he prepared to open the bedroom door and leave.

"What are your plans for today," Katie asked, climbing out of the bed on his side.

"I don't know now. Probably just some laundry and other chores. Maybe go to the gym and work out for a while."

"Do it here, with me. Bring your laundry over here and we can do ours together while we talk. I will tell you as much as I can to prove that I want us to have a future together as much as you do. If after your laundry is done you feel that we are a lost cause, I'll respect that decision. I do trust you Tyler, but I need to protect you. I will try to make you understand. Please."

"What time?"

"Whenever is convenient for you. Cile will be gone by eight, and you're invited to have breakfast with us if you want. Any time after she leaves will give us an opportunity to talk."

"Let me think about it," he said. "I'll text you beforehand if I am coming over."

She walked over to him and placed her arms around his neck. She felt him tense, but he didn't resist.

"Okay, Tyler. If it means anything to your decision, I think I'm falling in love with you. I can't imagine any other reason why I would be offering to share the things that I want to share with you."

He bent his head and gave her a quick peck on her lips, "Thanks for telling me, Katie. I'll let you know."

She followed him out into the living room where he simply waved to Cile who was standing in the kitchen before heading toward the front door.

Katie touched his arm as he opened the door and said, "I really hope to hear from you, Tyler. Please give me a chance."

"You have had lots of chances, Katie. I don't know what one more will accomplish, but I'll think about it."

Without saying anything further, he left her condo and walked the short distance to his own. After unlocking the front door, he didn't look back before entering and closing it behind himself.

Katie stood with tears growing in her eyes at the open door until she felt Cile's hand on her arm, "I poured you some coffee. Let's talk before I have to get ready to leave."

Katie allowed her cousin to pull her away from the door so that she could close it, and then led her into the kitchen. Cile handed Katie a cup of coffee and then directed her to a seat at the dining table before sitting in a chair across from her.

"Are you upset because Tyler is upset, or is he upset because you're upset?"

Katie wiped her teary eyes on the sleeve of the shirt she still wore, which made her want to cry even more when she smelled him on the fabric. Cile handed her a napkin and waited.

"He thinks I'm a lost cause," Katie whimpered.

"Why? Because you two didn't have sex last night?"

Katie snorted and said, "No. He knew that I would have willingly acquiesced to anything he wanted from me sexually. What I couldn't give him were answers about myself that would allow him to learn too much about me. Oh, Cile, I wanted to, but I just don't know how I will be able to draw the line when the time comes and not reveal something to him that I really shouldn't."

"I think that you should discuss this with your mom," Cile advised.

"You have listened far too long to your dad, my dad, JR, and Joey, and their interest is solely to protect you. Your mom needs to know what's going on between you and Tyler and her advice will focus on your happiness first and foremost. You know that."

Katie sniffled a few times before taking a sip of her coffee and staring silently around her living room as if searching for answers that might be hidden there.

"I need to go get ready," Cile said. "I'll be as quick as I can so that we have some more time to talk before I have to leave."

Katie just nodded and stared down into her coffee cup while Cile headed upstairs to the guest bedroom. When she heard the shower starting upstairs, Katie broke out of her funk long enough to take care of her jerboa's food and water for the morning before heading into her bathroom to take a shower.

Closing her eyes as water ran over her head and face, Katie hoped that she would see an image of Tyler in her mind as she had the previous night, but all she saw was the memory of his dejected expression as he left her this morning.

Was she really falling in love with Tyler? Katie had no frame of reference for her feelings towards this man. They didn't compare to even her most ardent teenage crushes, and even the one guy that she had considered a possible relationship with at Texas A&M meant nothing to her when she tried to conjure up those past feelings alongside what she felt for Tyler.

Then there was the apparent connection between them that they were just beginning to explore and understand. How could he have so much insight into her thoughts, wants, and desires so quickly with apparent ease? Not to mention her visions of him, and the way that she could sense his eyes almost probing her very being with his desire to know and share who she was.

After drying herself off, Katie put on panties and then put Tyler's shirt back on. After brushing her teeth and combing her damp hair, she went back out to the kitchen to see if Cile had returned downstairs. She found her standing in the kitchen rinsing out her coffee cup.

"You're right," Katie told her cousin. "I need to speak with my mom about Tyler and get her advice on what I should or shouldn't tell him."

Cile turned from the sink and smiled, "No one knows better than her the costs of keeping things secret. However, she also knows when keeping them does more harm than good. Listen to her. I'm sure that everything will work out if you do."

"I hope so. Tyler is barely in my life right now and I can't imagine it without him. He is the first person I can honestly say I need to need me. I really want there to be an 'us'."

Cile picked up her cell phone and checked the display, "My ride is here. I better get going."

Katie embraced her cousin and best friend like the sisters that they had always been to each other, "I miss you already."

"Why don't you come home over the Labor Day weekend," Cile suggested.

"I'll think about it," Katie said. "That's half a month away, so I'll let you know."

Cile picked up her purse and headed for her suitcase sitting by the front door.

"Who knows, maybe it will be a chance for you to introduce Tyler to your parents."

Katie cringed at the idea, "I doubt any man would like me enough this early in a relationship to be able to handle my dad."

"You said it yourself, Tyler is different. Don't sell him short. If you have as much trust and faith in him as you displayed last night, then I know he will get past this. Call me tonight and let me know how things go. I love you."

Cile gave Katie one more quick hug before opening the front door and heading down the walkway that led to the front of the complex, where her ride to the airport waited for her. Katie closed the door behind her and returned to her bedroom to retrieve her cell phone.

It was just after eight o'clock, which meant that it was just after ten in Texas. At that time on a Sunday morning, her parents would most likely be in their Sunday school class, followed by the eleven o'clock church service. She didn't expect her mother to have her cell phone on, or she would at least have the volume turned down, but Katie knew that she would check for messages when church was over. She decided to send her a text and then wait for her mom to respond.

KATIE: Good morning, Mom. I need to talk to you about something. Please call me when you get this message - preferably when Dad isn't around to hear you.

~~~

At two in the afternoon, Katie still hadn't heard anything from Tyler. She had been scripting what she wanted to tell him ever since she and her mother had spoken.

Cile had been right, and Katie knew as soon as the suggestion had been made that speaking to her mom was the right thing to do. Her mom asked all the relevant questions to gauge not only Katie's feelings for Tyler, but also ascertain from almost two thousand miles away, just how trustworthy the man was who had captured her daughter's heart.

The biggest unknown for her mother had been the same one that Katie had been dealing with, and that was the risk of letting one of the investigators in the Shoreline Mall case know too much about her. She and her mom had discussed the potential risk of not telling Tyler anything and then having him try to discover things about Katie through other sources. They had agreed that they needed to avoid him seeking information from sources other than Katie, if for no other reason than to protect him from the blow-back that would result.

As far as her personal details went, her mom felt that Katie had nothing to risk by sharing those with Tyler, as long as she did it correctly. She had reminded Katie that the background check which had been run on him showed that Tyler could be trusted enough with secrets to deem him eligible for a Top-Secret security clearance.

Now that she had confidence in sharing more of herself with Tyler, she was growing impatient with his silence. She decided to see if he would respond to a text from her.

KATIE: March 30, 2004

TYLER: What about it?

KATIE: That's my birthdate. I am ready to share it, and a lot more with you whenever you're ready to listen.

TYLER: Is this some kind of joke?

Katie gasped at the response. Had things deteriorated so far with Tyler since their talk this morning that her attempts to now answer his questions were viewed by him as some sort of joke on her part?

KATIE: Why would telling you my birthdate be a joke?

TYLER: Because March 30, 2004, is MY birthdate, and you know that from the dossier you compiled on me.

KATIE: OMG! Are you serious? I never looked at the file for your birthdate. Honestly, March 30, 2004, is my actual birth date. I may have been secretive, but I have never lied to you.

Tyler considered her words. While he couldn't verify whether or not Katie had ever lied to him, his intuition told him that she hadn't. In his years as an investigator, his intuition about someone had never failed him, but should he trust it in his muddled and confused state of mind over this woman?

KATIE: Tyler, please come over and let's talk. I know what I want to tell you. No, I know what I NEED to tell you, and I don't think that you will be disappointed. At least I hope you won't be.

Damn! He had resigned himself to the fact that he would not be able to accept Katie refusing to trust him. Ignoring her offer to come over and do their laundry together had seemed like the most prudent response, but now she seemed genuinely sincere in her desire to share herself with him.

TYLER: Why the sudden change of heart?

KATIE: It's always been in my heart where you are concerned. I sought some help getting it into my mind.

TYLER: Help from Cile?

KATIE: No, help from my mom. Please come over and I will try to explain.

TYLER: I already finished my laundry.

Katie looked at his words and tried to determine if they were figurative or literal. Had he already decided that they were through? She had to know.

KATIE: Laundry is just a chore. This is our future that we need to work on. Besides, I have enough laundry for both of us.

Five minutes passed without a reply from Tyler. Katie sat with her elbows on the dining room table and bent her head to rest her forehead on the palms of her hands. She closed her eyes, trying to think of what words she could use that would convince him of her sincerity.

There he was!

In her mind, she saw Tyler clearly once again. He was wearing khaki cargo shorts and a Hawaiian-style shirt, maybe the Tommy Bahama one he had told her that he would wear but didn't. The image in her mind showed him holding his cell phone and simply staring at it. Suddenly, he raised his head and spoke to someone, and then walked towards his front door. Katie watched him moving in her mind, and she knew instinctively where he was heading. She didn't bother checking her cell phone to see if he had texted her, but simply ran to her own front door and opened it.

He saw her standing in her doorway as soon as he stepped out of his own. He didn't smile when he asked, "Is somebody anxious?"

Katie took a deep breath to try and staunch the sob threatening to erupt from her throat. Standing aside to allow him entry, she said, "You have no idea."

They stood silently in the foyer after she closed the door. Finally, Tyler asked, "What time were you born on March thirtieth?"

"Six fifteen in the morning. Why?"

"Were you born in Texas?"

"Yes."

Tyler turned and walked into the condo with Katie on his heels. He saw her cell phone sitting on the dining room table, so he pulled the chair in front of that spot out for her. She sat in the chair, tentatively watching as he went around and took the chair opposite her.

"I was born at four thirteen on the morning of March thirtieth. With the two-hour time difference, that means that we were born two minutes apart."

Katie grinned and said, "I would respect you even if you weren't my elder."

Tyler didn't smile in return, he simply asked, "So, what do you want to tell me?"

Katie wasn't overjoyed with his attitude, but she understood it.

"This will probably take some time. Could I convince you to brew up another pitcher of your Margaritas that we can drink while I explain things to you?"

Tyler turned his head and saw that most of the items he would need for mixing Margaritas were already sitting on the counter in the kitchen. Without speaking, he got up from his chair and walked into the kitchen. Katie rose and followed him.

"Can I ask you a question to start things off?" she asked.

"What?" said Tyler.

She wasn't sure if the curtness and tone of his reply was due to his annoyance at her asking, or his focus on the task of making the Margaritas, but she hoped it was the latter.

"Why did you choose a career as an investigator rather than as a lawyer?"

He paused in his preparation of the drinks and looked at her.

"What does that have to do with anything? I thought that you wanted me to listen to your explanation about why you are so secretive."

Katie reached out and put her hand on his forearm, "I need to know a little more about your inquisitive nature to help me understand how best to explain things to you."

He moved his arm away from her so that he could use that hand as he continued adding ingredients to the pitcher. He didn't say anything until he had all the required liquids in the pitcher and had begun to stir them.

"Well, to start with, I didn't choose to become an investigator instead of a lawyer. I was already a card-carrying member of the California Bar Association when I applied to the Department of Law Enforcement."

He pointed to the two glasses with salted rims sitting on the counter and Katie understood what he was asking by doing so. She walked to her freezer and filled both glasses with ice and then carried them to the dining room table. Tyler carried the pitcher to the table and poured Margaritas into each glass before setting the pitcher on the table and taking a seat across from her once more. They clinked glasses in a silent toast.

Tyler picked up his explanation without prompting, "I already told you that I grew up in a culture that for the most part considered themselves above the law and better than everyone else due to their wealth. While studying history and later law, I learned that there were other elements of our society that held similar beliefs, but not always due to their accumulation of money. I saw it in politics, business, and even in organized crime. I wanted to fight for the little guys I guess you could say."

"So, the case you are working on right now, it is helping the little guys?" she asked.

Tyler shook his head, "No, the case I am working on right now is nothing but a politically motivated witch hunt. Have you heard of the Shoreline Angel incident?"

Now it was Katie's turn to shake her head, "It doesn't sound familiar."

"It happened last January at the Shoreline Mall. A gunman was preparing to kill as many people as he could in the mall, but after only one shot, a mystery woman appeared and shot him dead. She then just disappeared and no one knows who she was. Me and my team are assigned the job of finding her."

"Did she break the law by shooting the gunman? It sounds like she should be considered a hero of some sort from the way you describe it."

"No. Even if she didn't have the legal right to be carrying the gun she used, it is unlikely under the circumstances that she would be charged with any crime. However, the power-hungry Attorney General of this fine State is an ardent opponent of the Second Amendment to the Constitution and is committed to determining if any of our State gun laws were violated by this woman through her vigilante actions or by her not coming forward after the fact."

"What will happen if you find her?" Katie asked before taking a sip of her Margarita.

Tyler took a sip from his drink before answering, "Legally? Probably nothing. While most prosecutors wouldn't even try to bring charges against her, the AG would probably try to get her before a Grand Jury for an indictment. It would be a stretch to get an indictment, but he wouldn't care as long as it allowed him to wax poetic on the need to confiscate guns from law-abiding citizens."

"What else would happen to her?"

"Notoriety, for certain. Every Hollywood producer would want to do a movie about her, every publishing house would want books written about her, and every magazine would want to do an article on her. Heck, from the little we have seen of what she looks like, I wouldn't be surprised if multiple men's magazines didn't want her to pose nude. The NRA would want her as their spokesperson, and her name would probably become a household word around the world."

Katie hoped that her blushing wasn't too obvious, but if Tyler noticed, he didn't mention it.

"What happens if you can't identify her? How will that affect your career?" she asked.

"In the long run, it won't matter where my career is concerned, but it will dog me for eternity. I will have failed at the challenge presented to me, and that won't be something that I will be able to forget. Plus, there is something about this woman that really intrigues me. Like I said, we don't have anything but a short video covering right before, during, and after the shooting, but what I can see of her convinces me that this is a woman that I would like to get to know. It's hard to describe, but there is just something about her that I can't ignore. In some ways, you remind me of her."

Katie's eyes got wide and her mouth got dry. She needed to take another drink before she was able to speak.

"I remind you of her? How?"

Tyler stared at the ceiling while trying to formulate his words the way he wanted them to come out, "It's almost like I can sense things from her like I can do with you. That's confusing to me because so much of what I derive from you is through your eyes and what they are telling me. I have never seen this woman's eyes, yet I can still sense a connection with her."

Katie was beginning to have a newfound respect for the idea of connections between two people, but she didn't want to dwell on the subject with Tyler right now.

Katie waited to make certain that Tyler was done before she started with what she wanted to tell him. "I want to share with you what I told my mom when I spoke with her earlier today. I explained to her that ever since I met you, whenever you look at me, I see a story in your eyes. It's a story that I want to be part of for the rest of my life, but beyond that, I want to be the star of the story in your eyes. I told her that you deserve to see a story in my eyes, and to be the star of that story."

"My mom, well actually both my parents, have shown me that the bravest thing a person can do is to give their unconditional love to someone. Tyler, I see that courage in you, and for the first time in my life, I want to muster that same courage myself. I know that with just a little more patience from you, and a lot of understanding, I can get there."

Tyler appeared ready to speak when Katie held up a hand to stop him.

"I now need to tell you about my mother and father. Please hold any questions until I'm done and I will try to answer anything you ask. Okay?"

Tyler simply nodded, so Katie began, "My parents met in high school. There was an instant attraction, but they both sensed that there was also something more between them, so they took things slow trying to understand what it was. They were more in love than either of them thought humanly possible when the unthinkable happened."

Tyler sat, paying attention to her words as his mind tried to make sense of them at the same time. The 'unthinkable' usually meant some sort of catastrophic event, like a serious injury or death, but Katie's parents had obviously survived.

Katie continued, "The day of their senior prom, my dad went to pick my mom up for the dance and discovered that she had simply disappeared. She and her parents had vanished and no one knew where they had gone. He spent the remainder of the school year contacting everyone he had ever met who might know their whereabouts but had no success. It was like she had never existed to the rest of the world. But my dad could still sense that special connection between them, so he knew that she was alive somewhere."

"My father had already been accepted into the Air Force Academy, so he left for college still not knowing where the woman he loved had disappeared to. While at the academy, he tried to take his mind off of her by focusing upon his studies and expanding his knowledge of neurotoxins, which he holds several patents in. He graduated at the top of his class and was assigned to Air Force Intelligence where he basically wrote the book on the use of psychological warfare in counter-terrorism campaigns."

Tyler was still focused on her every word, but not so much that he didn't notice that her glass was almost empty. He picked up the pitcher and refilled both glasses.

Katie waited for him to finish before thanking him and picking up her tale, "You don't have the security clearance required to allow me to share the specifics, but suffice it to say that my father did several things while assigned to the Middle East that brought him to the attention of some very high-ranking and influential people within our government. After the Air Force, he took a newly created position within the administration that few people, to this day, even know exists."

"So, fast forward a few years and it has now been ten years since that fateful day when my mom had disappeared. My father had just relocated to Texas for his work, not too far from where one of his older sisters was living. He hadn't seen his sister since her wedding right before he had left for the academy and agreed to drive out to her house to meet his nephew, who he had never met to this point. He met up with them at the nephew's baseball practice where he also met the nephew's best friend, another boy of the same age of ten. My father was still driving the classic car that he and his father had restored while he was in high school. The car that my father and mother had shared so many memories in while they were dating. Upon seeing the car, his nephew pointed out to his friend that the car looked just like the one in all the pictures that his mom had in their house."

Tyler felt goosebumps forming as Katie continued, "Again, without going into all the details, you can probably figure out that the friend of his nephew was the ten-year-old son that my father never knew he had. When my mom had disappeared, she hadn't known that she was pregnant and the circumstances of her disappearance had prevented her from ever letting my father know."

"What circumstances?" Tyler asked impatiently.

"I'm getting there, and this is critical to you understanding a lot about me and why I am so secretive," Katie told him.

"Through all the time that my mom and dad were dating during high school, there was one member of his family that she had never met, and that was his older sister Frances, who we all call 'Franc'. By the way, she is Cile's mom. Anyway, through fate, serendipity, kismet, or whatever you want to call it, without knowing their ties through my father, my mom and my father's sister had both moved to the same community and had become best friends. The two ten-year-old boys who were also best friends had no idea that they were actually cousins. This was due to the fact that my mom had been living under an alias for the past ten years. You see, her father, my grandfather had discovered some information through his work as an accountant that helped the US Attorney develop a case against several organized crime figures, primarily in the Russian Mafia on the west coast. My grandparents and mother had been placed in the federal witness protection program, which is why they had disappeared so completely. Ironically, they had been relocated to a community where the sister of my father also lived, which is how they were finally reunited."

"They're not still in the witness protection program, are they? Is that why you're so secretive?"

Katie raised a hand imploring Tyler to be patient, "My father and mother had been reunited, but they knew that if the US Marshals discovered their past, they would likely try to relocate my mom again. They considered keeping their past a secret and probably would have chosen that option if something hadn't forced my dad to act. It turned out that the head of the Russian Mafia on the west coast ordered the assistant attorney general handling the case to be kidnapped and tortured until he turned over his credentials to the databases that revealed where people in the witness protection program were living. The threat against my brother, my mom ,and her parents was suddenly very real, so my dad decided that rather than running from the threat once more, he would eliminate it."

Tyler remembered stories about how powerful the Russian Mafia was becoming in Southern California back in the late eighties and early nineties, and how they had seemed to suddenly fall off the face of the earth. Could this story that Katie was telling him explain what had happened?

She took another drink and said, "Once more, I can't go into the details, but my dad had, and still has significant authority and influence where our national security is concerned. No one outside the highest levels of the administration knows that his position even exists, and fewer still know him by name. Besides forcing the Russian Mafia to abandon all their operations on American soil, his actions have dealt serious and long-lasting blows to numerous terrorist operations around the world and thwarted actions by foreign governments that would have been detrimental to our national security."

Katie watched Tyler nodding at her to go on, "The only thing that my father loves more than this country is his family. It is critical that the name "Brandt" be as obscure as possible at all times, and he has gone to great extremes to make that a reality. If someone even does a Google search on a member of the family, alarms go off at places like the NSA, the FBI, and the Secret Service. Tyler, I need you to know this because if you were to make any inquiries into me or my background, I couldn't stop what would happen to you."

"What would happen to me?"

"It would depend on who it was that got the assignment to visit you and how seriously they took the threat you presented to me or my family."

"Why would they automatically assume that I was a threat?" he asked.

"Because that's the way they have been trained. Everything is a threat until it isn't. It's the way my brother and I were raised also."

Tyler wasn't sure that he agreed with the risk Katie said he would be in if he ran a background check on her, but decided not to push the issue right then.

Katie set her glass down and looked Tyler directly in the eyes, "Then there's the small matter of my own job..."

"You're a veterinarian," he said with obvious confusion in his voice.

"I have a doctorate in veterinary medicine, and I will soon have a doctorate in molecular biology. What do you think those two areas of study have in common?"

Tyler thought for a moment and said, "Something to do with breeding healthier or more specialized species of animals?"

Katie didn't respond, but asked, "Have you ever heard of Jared Diamond?"

"You mean the jewelry store chain?"

Katie laughed and said, "No, the man Jared Diamond."

Tyler just shook his head, so Katie explained, "Jared Diamond was an American geographer, author, and historian. He is best known for his book 'Guns, Germs and Steel' which won him the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 1998. Hang on, I have a copy of it upstairs."

Without waiting for a response from Tyler, Katie jumped up from her seat and walked swiftly to her stairs, and then disappeared up them. He heard her return after only a few seconds. She placed a hardcover book in front of him and retook her seat.

"You can take that if you want. It really is interesting reading. Anyway, in that book, Diamond details how the domestication of animals played such a major role in the development of cultures and societies in Europe that allowed their development to surpass that of societies and cultures in other parts of the world, such as Africa, the Americas and much of Asia. He points specifically to how European societies, due to their close proximity to domesticated animals, contracted and eventually developed immunity to those diseases that crossed the species barrier, such as influenza, smallpox, and measles. These germs, along with guns and steel weapons is what he claims allowed Europeans the advantage over other geographic societies."

Tyler picked up the book but didn't open it. He waited for Katie to explain further. She did so, "We know that it isn't just domesticated animals living in close proximity to humans that pose a current and future threat. Things like Lyme disease, the Bird Flu, Anthrax, Coronavirus, Mad Cow disease, and the Zika virus are all examples of diseases that have made the species barrier jump within the last few decades. I trust you not to mention this to anyone, but once I have my doctorate in hand, I will begin working in a classified facility that is affiliated with the CDC in Atlanta and the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick. Our highly classified mission is to identify and prevent diseases from crossing the species barrier, either naturally or through human manipulation in a laboratory."

"Where will you go?" he asked.

Katie sensed immediately from the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice that Tyler's interest was of a personal nature. Her heart leaped at the thought that he would want to be with her, and that is why he was asking the question.

Katie got up from her chair and walked around to Tyler. Without prompting, he scooted his chair back so that she could sit on his lap.

"Honestly," she said putting her arms around his neck and thankful that he didn't resist, "I would tell you if I knew. It's not like there is currently a dedicated lab for this purpose and part of my role as its Director will be to get one established somewhere. With few exceptions, it could be established anywhere in the country."

"Are you done?" Tyler asked. "Can I ask questions now?"

Katie stood, returned to her chair, and picked up her drink in preparation for his inquisition. "I'll answer whatever I can for you, but if I can't answer something, I hope you will understand why."

"Fair enough," he said. "First of all, what were you and Cile working on this weekend that you didn't want me to know about?"

Katie smiled, "That one I can answer. My paternal, and Cile's maternal grandparents live over in Cypress. One of the reasons that I chose UCI for my doctoral program is so that I could be out here closer to them. While it's not too bad yet, my grandmother is showing the early signs of dementia. I visit with them a few times a week to help my grandfather with chores such as shopping and laundry when my grandmother isn't up to the task. Cile came by to help me paint some of the walls in their house colors that are known to be more soothing to people with dementia and to hang more pictures of family on those walls so it will help her remember everyone longer. If I do end up leaving here for work, Cile will move in to take over with them."

"Well, that settles it," Tyler said. "If you leave, I'm coming with you. You can't leave me here alone with Cile!"

Katie laughed the hardest and most sincere laugh she had experienced all day and said, "Don't worry, I'll protect you from Cile if you need me to."

"So, this secret agent scientist thing, is that your dream?" he asked.

Katie considered her answer before responding, "I have always loved animals, and it's an important job that needs to be done, but to answer your question, no it isn't my dream job."

"Can you share with me what your dream job is?"

Her hesitation almost had Tyler telling her that it was okay if she didn't want to tell him, but before he could voice it, she replied, "A wife and mother. That has always been my dream job."

"You wouldn't want a career outside of the home?"

Katie shook her head, "My mom is the strongest, bravest, and most talented woman I have ever met. She is an equal partner with my father in all their ventures, yet she always put her family first. I didn't mention that she homeschooled both my brother and me. We were both well into our college coursework before other kids our ages were planning to attend their freshman orientation in high school. If I could be half the wife and mother that she is, my dream would become reality."

"What if your income is needed to support your family?"

"It won't be," she answered.

"How can you be so certain?"

Katie stood and walked over to the coffee table and picked up the file tablet that she had given Tyler last night. She brought it back to the table and laid it in front of him before retaking her seat.

"Thanks to that," she said pointing to the tablet, "I know your financial situation. Why don't you ask me about mine? You won't learn it any other way."

He glanced down at the tablet and then back up into her smiling eyes, "Because it doesn't matter to me how much money you have," he told her. "As long as it is enough to make your dreams come true, I'm satisfied."

Katie felt her heart melting even more for this man, "You're not even curious?" she said.

"Sure, but it seems like one of those questions that you and Cile were schooling me on. It's none of my business, so I shouldn't ask the question."

Katie laughed again, "Touché. Fine. I'll just tell you that I am well taken care of financially and leave it at that for now. But seriously, you have my permission to ask the question at any time. My hope is that at some point you will have a vested interest, as you called it, in knowing what I am worth. Is there anything else that you want to know?"

"Yes," he said. "If I order pizza for us, what are the chances that I would get to fold your unmentionables?

Chapter Eight

"I know her," Claire told her partners as soon as she walked up to the small conference table they were sharing.

"You know who?" asked Dennis.

"The clerk at Tiffany's," Claire answered. "I thought that 'Teme' was an uncommon first name for a girl, and I had only known one other girl with that same name, so I did some digging through public records on Sunday and found out that she is the same Teme that I know. She is still using her married name even though her divorce was final last March."

"So how do you know her?" asked Tyler.

Claire took her laptop out of her bag and set it up on the conference table as she explained, "Teme Greer, which is Teme Cortez's maiden name, lost both her parents in a traffic accident when she was fifteen. The Clayton family that lives next door to my parent's house in Redlands became her foster parents until she turned eighteen. I was away at college during most of that time, but I met her on several occasions. My younger brother Gary took her to the prom."

"Do you think you could use this familiarity to get her to tell us more than she told the Sheriff's detectives?" asked Tyler.

"I already have," Claire told them. "I called the Claytons to get her cell phone number, even though I already had it in the reports. I wanted to establish a connection other than the case as the reason for me calling her. We spoke last night and agreed to meet at her place today before her shift starts at noon."

"Great work," said Dennis. "So, she doesn't know that you are working on the case and you will use your history to try and get her to reveal something that she held back in previous interviews. I assume that you want to meet with her alone."

"Exactly. Let me fill you both in though on what I already learned from her."

Dennis and Tyler both lowered the screens on their laptops and gave Claire their full attention.

"First of all, I remember the Teme next door to my parent's house having perfect vision. I remember because I had laid out by the pool with her a few times over summer breaks and she used to point out the shapes that she would see in the clouds, or spot airplanes high up in the sky that were barely visible to the naked eye."

"So, unless her vision changed drastically, she didn't need corrective lenses," said Tyler

"Precisely. This is confirmed through a check with the DMV. Her driver's license does not state that she must wear corrective lenses while driving. Someone who was a near-sighted as she claimed in her interviews would never pass the eye test at the DMV without glasses or contacts."

"Interesting that the Sheriff's guys didn't confirm that with the DMV, or if they did, they made no note of it in the reports," said Dennis. "What else?"

"Teme didn't come right out and say that she saw the woman clearly, but things that she did say implied it."

"Like what?" asked Dennis.

"She asked if I ever read an article in Cosmopolitan magazine from the early seventies that documented clinical trials by several psychologists on male/female attraction. Apparently, this article mentioned that certain men evoke a stronger physiological reaction from women than others due to factors beyond just their physical appearance. The psychologists theorized that certain men emit hormones or other sensory triggers that literally can cause a woman to start ovulating when in their presence."

"Is she saying that our mystery woman is really a man?" asked Tyler. "I don't buy that for a minute."

"No," said Claire, "she was merely using that study as a possible explanation for how she could best describe the woman. She said that if some men can make a woman ovulate simply by being nearby, then this woman would have the same effect in reverse on men. Whatever the male physiological comparison is to a woman's ovulation, she said this woman would trigger it."

"So, she thought this woman was sexy?" asked Dennis. "Was she attracted to her?"

Claire nodded and said, "Teme actually admitted that she has never been attracted to another woman, but this one literally made her question her own sexuality. That's how she put it. She didn't describe any of her features in detail but rather used a lot of adjectives such as 'innocent', 'seductive', 'pure', 'temptress', and 'radiant'. I asked about the conflicting terms and Teme told me that the woman was all those things in one package. She also said that the woman had the most seductive voice that she had ever heard; deeper than most women, yet almost musical in its tone. Teme said the woman's laugh made her knees weak, it was so alluring. Another gauge of her eyesight not being deficient is the fact that she said the woman stood about five foot ten and she estimated her bras size as 34C and guessed that she probably wore a size two dress."

"Do you think that you can get more out of her when you meet, maybe even get her to agree to a sketch?" Tyler asked. He was reflecting on how the clerk had described the woman and agreed with many of her observations from his brief view of the woman on the video.

"I asked her if she had ever been asked to describe the woman to a sketch artist and Teme almost clammed up on me. I was finally able to get her to tell me that she couldn't do that. When I asked why all she would tell me was that two very big men with very big badges and even bigger guns were waiting for her at her apartment when she had gotten home from work the day of the shooting and told her to forget what the woman looked like or she would end up someplace like Guantanamo Bay. I am going to try and get some more descriptive features today, and offer her protection if she'll do a sketch, but I don't know how successful I will be."

"Use your best judgment," Tyler told her. "If nothing else, try to get her to agree that if we have a suspect, she will at least look at a line-up for us."

"I'll do that," Claire said. "Now what do you guys have that's new?"

Tyler spoke first, "It's taken a while, but my contact at the DMV was able to verify that only 151 Corvette Grand Sport convertibles were manufactured in 2017. We have requested information on all those purchases from General Motors and should have it by the end of the day. The DMV only has identified fifteen possible matches in their records for California registrations. I expect to receive copies of the registrations on all these within the hour. What about you, Dennis?"

"I have some feelers out, but nothing yet," he said. "Claire, maybe you can ask the clerk if she noticed which agency the 'big badges' were from. That could provide me with a starting point."

"It's already on my list," Claire confirmed. "Do you guys want to meet back here, say at two this afternoon for another update from each?"

Tyler checked the time and said, "That works for me. It gives me time to try to have lunch with someone."

He walked back to his desk and called Katie on her cell phone. It rang twice before she answered, and Tyler could tell that she was someplace noisy.

"Hi Tyler, I was going to call you once I got past the security checkpoints, but you beat me to it."

"Are you at the airport?" he asked.

"Yes, and I need to hang up right now, but I'll call you back in a few minutes. Will that be okay?"

"Of course. I'll be waiting for your call."

Tyler heard her disconnect their call and then laid his cell phone on his desk next to his laptop. He stared at the screensaver on the laptop's display as he considered how his anxiousness to speak with Katie had just been elevated by at least ten-fold.

While he had looked forward to speaking with her and asking her to meet him someplace for lunch, now he was more concerned with learning what had happened since he had kissed her at her door this morning to find her now at the airport, preparing to fly someplace unknown to him.

As had been the case every night for the past week, when he had reluctantly left Katie's condo, it had been with a promise to come over this morning before he left for work to have a cup of coffee with her. He had kept his promise, surprised and delighted to find Katie once more wearing nothing more than his former dress shirt. Damn, it sure looked good on her.

Katie had obviously been awake for a while before he had arrived since in addition to having coffee ready for them, she had also baked blueberry muffins, which he realized were fresh out of the oven. She had been so much more open and revealing about herself since their first weekend, and she regaled him over coffee and muffins with stories about her and Cile learning how to cook over the years in one of their homes or the other.

It didn't seem to matter, because from how she described her childhood, the homes of the two cousins had been virtually interchangeable for them since they had been infants. Tyler had laughed when Katie had told him that after watching the 'Cat in the Hat' movie, she and Cile had started referring to their respective mothers as "Mom 1" and "Mom 2," after the "Thing" characters from the book. If they were at Katie's house, Katie's mom was "Mom 1" and her aunt was "Mom 2". If they were at Cile's house, the mom numbers were switched.

Tyler saw the screen on his cell phone illuminate with Katie's number before the first ring was heard. He picked it up and answered it, "Hi Katie. You made it through security pretty fast."

"I have a PrePass ticket, so the line was shorter, and the process is much less involved," she told him.

She couldn't tell Tyler that she didn't go through the typical TSA security checkpoints. She had to check in at the airport security office where they could verify her credentials and notify both the flight crew and any Sky Marshal on the same flight that there was another passenger authorized to be carrying a loaded weapon on a commercial aircraft.

"Sorry that I didn't have a chance to speak to you earlier, but this whole trip is literally a spur of the moment thing."

"Is everything okay," Tyler asked.

"Oh sure, everything is fine. I just received an e-mail this morning from someone agreeing to sell me their 2006 SSR if I can meet with them and finalize the transaction tomorrow. They live in Olathe, Kansas so I am flying to Kansas City today."

"What's an SSR?" asked Tyler.

Katie laughed and said, "You should probably Google it. That way you'll be able to see it rather than having me try to describe it."

"Okay, hang on a second," he said as he logged back onto his computer and initiated the search that she had suggested. It became obvious to him which meaning of 'SSR' would be of interest to Katie.

"I assume you're referring to the Chevrolet SSR," he said. "It's a cool looking car, truck, or whatever it is."

Katie laughed again, "It's classified as a pick-up truck, but I doubt anyone uses it as such. If this one matches the description I saw of it, I will buy it and drive it back home. If things go as I hope, I'll be on the road tomorrow morning and back to you by Friday night."

"Why do you have to go all the way to Kansas for one of these SSR's?" he asked. "Are they that hard to find?"

"2006 was the last year that the Chevrolet SSR was built. SSR stands for 'Super Sport Roadster' by the way. That model year has the best performance features and choice of options, but it was also the year with the fewest vehicles produced, so they are the rarest. I have been looking for one with specific features and the lowest mileage I can find. This one appears to meet all my expectations, and is even the silver color that I would prefer."

Tyler was researching further as Katie explained her reason for the trip. He asked, "Wait a second, is it a convertible?"

The excitement in Katie's voice was contagious, "Yes, it has a retractable hardtop roof. Perfect for sunny Southern California days, or maybe a romantic moonlight drive. Know anyone who might be interested in that?"

"Most definitely," Tyler said with a chuckle. "I'm not real keen on you driving halfway across the country by yourself, though."

Katie was silent for a moment before replying, "Your concern for me means more than you know, Tyler, but I'll be fine. I've driven between Texas and California many times and know my limitations. However, on that note, I have left my route and itinerary on the counter in my kitchen for you, just so you know where I plan to be each day and where I intend to spend each night."

"Now it is your consideration that means more than you know," he told her. "Only one problem. I don't have access to your place. How am I going to get to your itinerary?"

"Go to the touch panel outside my garage door and enter the letters that spell the word 'Corvair', which will be 2678247. The garage door will open. There is a key to the kitchen door under the back-left bumper of my truck. Once you're in the kitchen, you will find your own remote and a set of keys for my home on the counter."

Tyler heard an announcement being made in the background, "Is your flight boarding?"

Katie waited for the noise around her to lessen before answering, "They're just making some pre-boarding announcements. The usual stuff. I have a few minutes yet."

"So, my own set of keys," Tyler said. "How many keys are we talking about?"

"Just the two," said Katie. "The remote opens the front door and one of the keys fits all the other external locks to the condo, and I think you'll figure out what the other one goes to. Tyler, I really meant what I said. I am going to prove to you that I trust you. I want you to know that if I am reluctant to share something with you, it is for some reason other than trust."

"I understand that Katie, and I feel the same way about you. What can I do for you while you're gone?"

"There's not much really," she said. "I think you already know what Sinbad needs each day from watching me, and what little mail I get will just hold in the box until I get home. The plants on the patio are on a timed drip system so they don't need any attention. Oh, there is one thing you could do for me if you wouldn't mind..."

"Sure, anything."

"Before Friday, could you move my truck out of the center of the garage and park it in the farthest of the two spaces? If I drive the SSR back, I'll want to park it closest to the kitchen door."

"That makes sense," he said. "Consider it done. What else?"

"You may have to move a few of the boxes that Cile and I were sorting through while she was here. I can't remember if I picked all of them up off the floor when we were done."

"Anyplace in particular that you want me to put the boxes?"

"Just put them on the workbench. I'll put them on the right shelves this weekend."

"I'm still not jazzed about you driving that far by yourself," Tyler told her. "I wish I could come with you."

Katie smiled again at both his concern as well as his desire to be with her. She had always thought that she would be annoyed by some guy wanting to coddle and protect her, but with Tyler, it was endearing.

"If you would like to take a road trip together," she said, "maybe we can work something out. Cile wanted me to come home to Texas over the Labor Day weekend, and I was considering it. I had planned to fly if I went, but if you could get a few extra days off from work, I would love for us to drive the SSR out there together. You could meet my family and they could meet you. Interested?"

"Sure," Tyler said. "I can take as much time off as we need, just let me know the days and what arrangements you want me to make for the trip."

"Let me give it some thought," she said. "I sure hope you know what you're getting yourself into by agreeing to meet my family."

"Would you feel any better if you met my family first? My parents have been bugging Taylor to let them visit the condo to see where we're living, so say the word and I'll arrange for them to come over this Saturday afternoon."

"It won't do much to alleviate my concerns over you meeting my family, but yes, I would love to meet your parents. There is something that you can do for me while I'm gone though."

"Name it," he said.

"I would like it if you broke up with Haley so that everyone knew it. I know that you said there was nothing but friendship between you two, but I don't like the idea that some tabloid might identify me as 'the other woman' or something similar if we're seen together in public. I want to be proud of you being my guy and me being your girl. Do you understand?"

"Wow!" Tyler said, "I was thinking the same thing. In fact, on my way into the office this morning I left a voicemail with Haley to call me so I could discuss that subject with her. I don't think that she will have any objections, but it doesn't matter to me if she does. It's you and me now kid."

"I like the sound of that. 'You and me'."

"Listen," Tyler said. "Since I won't have a chance to check your itinerary until later today, can you tell me now when you are due to arrive in Kansas City and where you'll be staying tonight?"

"Of course," she said. "I have to catch a connecting flight in Phoenix, which is then due to arrive into Kansas City tonight just before nine. I will then drive to Olathe, which is about an hour south of the airport. I should be checking into the Embassy Suites in Olathe between ten-thirty and eleven. I'll call you when I land and again when I get to the hotel. Is that okay?"

"Definitely. I miss you already, so the more often we talk while you're gone, the better."

"I couldn't agree more," Katie said. "I'm missing you too. By the way, how long do you think your old shirt will last without being washed? I mean the scent of you on the shirt."

Tyler laughed and said, "Well, I hope the smell of me isn't gamey enough to linger that long. Plus, maybe I want you needing to be close to me rather than using an old shirt as a substitute."

"Believe me, Buster, there is no substitute in my book for being close to you. I wish I could have convinced you to spend the night with me again."

"Believe me, I am regretting it now more than ever."

"They're starting boarding," Katie told him once the loudspeaker sound had ceased. "I'll text you from Phoenix to keep you updated."

"Katie, before you go, I want you to know that I feel the same way."

"What way is that?"

"I think I'm falling in love with you too."

"Tyler, I never doubted that. Let's keep falling and see where we land. What do you say?"

"Geronimo!"

Katie laughed and said, "Geronimo to you too, you nut. Bye for now."

"Bye Katie. Safe travels."

Katie quickly boarded the plane and took her first-class seat. While the rest of the passengers were boarding, she decided to send a quick text to Tyler that she knew would bring a smile to his face.

KATIE: I'll explain later when we talk. Missing my guy.

She put her cell phone into 'Airplane' mode and smiled. Who knew that falling in love could be so scary and so darn much fun at the same time?

~~~

"Yow'zah!" exclaimed Dennis. "Who's that?

Tyler glanced back at Dennis staring over his shoulder at the image displayed on his computer. He had just finished copying it and three other photos that had accompanied Katie's last text message from his cell phone to his laptop so that he could view them better. The picture that had caught Dennis' attention was of Katie walking towards the camera that her cousin Cile must have taken while they were at the dance club.

If the viewer somehow managed not to be affected by the image of this heavenly beauty approaching the person taking the picture, they couldn't help but notice the expressions of desire, admiration, envy, or lust that had been captured on the faces of every other person in the picture as their eyes were all on Katie.

Tyler returned his attention to his computer and selected another of the four photos. This one showed him standing in front of their booth at the same dance club, with Cile on his left and Katie on his right. Cile was standing on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on his cheek while Katie was simply smiling at his face with her world at that moment focused entirely on Tyler.

"Yow'zah squared!" said Dennis. "Now, who is the blonde too? Is that your landlady and her cousin that you were telling me about?"

Tyler smiled, but didn't turn around as he answered, "The tall brunette is my new girlfriend, Katie, and the blonde bombshell is her cousin Celia."

Katie and he had never discussed being boyfriend and girlfriend, or even being exclusive to one another, yet Tyler knew that this is exactly what they were. He had made that clear to Haley only minutes before when he had explained that he could no longer be her escort or be seen with her in any situation where they might be described by the press as 'a couple'. She had complained at first because of her expectation that Tyler would accompany her at several upcoming events, but when he had promised to find her a suitable replacement, she had acquiesced and eventually wished him and Katie well.

"If you're still serious about wanting to take Haley off my hands," Tyler said, "here's her number. She's expecting your call."

Dennis slid the piece of paper into his shirt pocket without looking at it and said, "Go back to that first picture," Tyler did so.

"Wow," Dennis said. "We both know that any guy with internet access has probably seen pictures of Haley Simons nude, but any of them would also agree after seeing this lady that you have made a two or maybe a three-level upgrade. Even fully clothed, she has it all. I don't know what 'all' is, but she certainly has it."

"Has what?" asked Claire, who had come over to see what her two partners were looking at on Tyler's computer.

"We're just comparing Tyler's new girlfriend with Haley Simmons," said Dennis.

Claire glanced at Tyler's computer screen briefly and said, "Nice. Now let's go over to the huddle table so I can fill you guys in on Teme Greer."

Tyler glanced at Dennis before picking up his laptop and heading toward the table that they used for conferences amongst the three of them. Claire's mood made it clear to both that her interview with the witness hadn't gone as she had expected.

~~~

With her head back against her seat and her eyes closed while waiting for her plane to take off, Katie had been focused upon the images of Tyler in her mind. After she had sent him the photos that she had asked Cile to share with her, Katie was curious if she would be able to detect any reaction from Tyler from this distance. After all, if she was going to explore this new connection that seemed existed between her and Tyler, she might as well include distance into the list of things to be verified.

She had discovered that her ability to sense where Tyler was and what he was doing seemed limited to those times when his thoughts were focused upon her. It was almost like those double locking doors between adjoining rooms in hotels. Both sides had to be opened for the occupant of either room to access the other.

There were times, she believed, that Tyler was almost pushing his thoughts to her rather than her seeking them out. Soon after she had sent the pictures from that Saturday night to him, she began sensing his thoughts on her, the strongest of which was him thinking of how proud he had been to be seen with her that night. She hoped that he somehow could sense how proud that she had been to be seen with him, for them to be viewed by others as a "couple".

She couldn't 'read' his actual thoughts, and she prayed that he couldn't read hers. It was more like her being able to sense his moods when the connection between them was present. As her plane roared down the runway on takeoff, she sensed Tyler's thoughts drifting from her and she knew that it was due to his mind now being occupied with thoughts of something other than her, rather than the rapidly increasing distance between them.

That was okay. Even if he couldn't think of her every waking moment, it sure seemed like she thought of nothing but Tyler all the time. Katie reclined her seat back as soon as it was permitted, closed her eyes and daydreamed once more about her guy.

~~~

"Is she certain that the text came from Teme?" asked Tyler.

Claire nodded and said, "As certain as she can be. The emoticons in it and the acronyms used were consistent with how Teme usually communicated with her. Someone could have emulated her, of course, but since all her communication services have been terminated, again, apparently at Teme's request, we don't currently have any easy way to determine anything definitively."

"So, the roommate never saw or heard Teme leaving their apartment, she just discovered the text message when she woke up this morning?" asked Dennis.

"That's what she claims," said Claire. "The last time she saw Teme was around eleven o'clock last night, so she left sometime between then and eight o'clock this morning when the roommate woke up and found the text message. The timestamp on the text message indicates that it was sent just after five-thirty this morning, but we don't know whether Teme was still in the apartment when she sent it, or someplace else."

"Obviously she gave you no indication of her intentions to leave the country when you spoke to her yesterday," said Dennis.

"None whatsoever," Claire said, shaking her head. "We spoke right before dinner yesterday, so whatever prompted her decision, if it was her decision, happened after that. Her roommate insists that she knew nothing of any plans for Teme to move out, and states that she was initially very upset because the rent for the next month is due in two weeks and Teme was supposed to pay half of it. Right after nine this morning, however, there was a transfer from Teme's bank account to her roommate's that deposited Teme's share for two months' rent. Her bank account was closed immediately after that transaction."

"Does Teme have a passport?" asked Tyler.

"According to State Department records, a passport has never been issued to a Teme Cortez or a Teme Greer," said Claire. "And she isn't currently booked on any of the scheduled flights from LAX to Papeete, which is the gateway international airport for French Polynesia. There are no direct flights from the US mainland to Bora Bora."

"So, she just decided sometime between yesterday evening and early this morning to take a job on some South Pacific Island?" asked Tyler. "I doubt it. First of all, Tahiti and most of French Polynesia are four hours behind us on the west coast, so it would have been the late afternoon and then the middle of the night on a Sunday when she had received the call with the job offer, at least according to her message. Plus, even if it was true, why the urgency?"

"I think we all know that the message about the job offer wasn't true," said Claire. "What we don't know is what really happened to her."

"I also don't think any of us have any doubts about who arranged her sudden trip," said Dennis. "It isn't a coincidence that it comes within hours of you speaking with her, and before you could actually meet with her. The Feds obviously had been monitoring her, and when they saw that she might reveal something that they had warned her not to, they snatched her up."

"Let me ask you both something," Tyler said. "The Sheriff and his guys basically told us that we could expect some 'higher power' to intercede if we pursued this investigation. Didn't you guys take that to mean that we would be contacted and told to back off, or something like that? None of us have been contacted by any Feds yet, but they seem to be very aware of our investigative efforts. Why no direct contact?"

"The difference must be Alfaro," said Claire. "Just as the Feds knew that Sheriff Radcliff would cooperate with them and back off if provided some national security justification, they probably knew that Alfaro would do just the opposite. Since we are just instruments of the AG's investigation, why bother even trying to get us to back off?"

"I think Claire is right," agreed Dennis. "But that puts us in a much tougher position. If the Feds are willing and able to make anyone associated with this case simply vanish, what risk are we putting people in, including ourselves by pursuing it?"

Tyler thought immediately of Katie and the information that she had provided him on the car. Would the Feds see her as a threat as a possible source of information that might lead them to identify the owner of the car? Was this trip to Kansas really something that she had planned and arranged of her own free will? He checked his watch and tried to calculate the approximate time that Katie would be arriving in Phoenix. He guessed that she should be there between one and two hours from now, depending upon flight conditions.

"Well, Teme was the only viable witness we had up to this point," said Claire. "However, we need to try and be more clandestine in our efforts to dig up other resources where identifying the jewelry or car are concerned. Any suggestions?"

"We should use intermediary agencies in our search," said Tyler.

"I was thinking the same thing," agreed Dennis. "For example, your search for the car owner could be run through the Insurance Commissioner's office and Claire's search for the jewelry could be directed through the Franchise Tax Board. Both agencies have legitimate reasons for the searches we are conducting that won't point to this investigation."

"We can give it a try," said Tyler, "but let's also develop coded references for any contacts we deal with at these agencies to help protect them. We don't want them easily identifiable, so avoid using e-mail or any other form of communication that would point to them."

"Good idea," agreed Claire. "When I was in college, my girlfriends and I used online blogs and internet marketing sites like eBay and Amazon to post hidden messages to each other. I could set something like that up for us to use between ourselves, and then a different routine for each contact we need to communicate with at the other agencies."

Dennis nodded his approval and said, "Do that. It's not exactly Cold War-era espionage level communication, and I'm sure the Feds will eventually figure out whatever we are using, but it might buy us enough time to at least determine who we're up against. I'll keep working on that."

"Good," said Tyler. "Now let me update you guys on what I have found out so far on the car."

In response, Claire and Dennis closed their laptops and gave Tyler their full attention.

"My source at the DMV basically confirmed what the Sheriff and his men told us, which is that after the California emission restrictions were enacted in 2021, most owners of cars that no longer met the standards either sold their cars or found some way to register them in another state. The second option is tough to do if a person has any residential or business ties within the state because the DMV will cite them for failing to pay the in-state registration and still impose the restrictions for driving the car here."

"I've heard about that," said Dennis. "My cousin's boss got caught registering his 2012 Honda through his business address in Arizona while he still lived in California. It cost him over twenty grand in penalties."

"Exactly," continued Tyler. "So, of the 151 Corvette Grand Sport convertibles manufactured in 2017, only fifteen were ever registered in the state of California. Of those, only two remain currently registered in the DMV system, and both of those are registered to movie production companies. I verified that both of these cars were out of state being used in filming at the time of the Shoreline Mall shooting. One was in Vancouver, Canada and the other was in Georgia."

"So, our car must be registered out of state somewhere," Claire said.

"It would appear," agreed Tyler. "Starting with the states that border California was my next logical step. I drew a blank with Oregon, which was a longshot considering that the car is a convertible, but I checked anyway. Only two 2017 Corvette Grand Sports were ever registered there, and they were both hardtops. Nevada had five originally registered, with three of those being totaled in accidents. The remaining two have been sitting on one of two car lots in Reno for over eighteen months and neither is close to the right color."

"And Arizona?" asked Claire.

"There were originally seven registered in Arizona, but all of them were reported stolen by 2019. Apparently, there is a lucrative market for Corvettes in Mexico City. The cost to insure one anywhere in Arizona is now too high for most people, even those who could have once afforded to buy a Corvette new."

"God knows that there are no emission regulations in Mexico City," said Dennis.

Tyler chuckled and then continued, "Moving out to the next group of states didn't result in any potential hits, but once I got to Idaho, I found something interesting."

When neither Dennis or Claire responded, he continued, "There was, and still is, only one 2017 Corvette Grand Sport convertible ever registered in Idaho, and it is listed in the system as being Blade Silver Metallic. So, it matches what we are looking for..."

"Why do I sense a 'but' coming?" asked Claire.

Tyler nodded and said, "Because while the car is registered in Idaho, it has never actually been there. No license plates for the state of Idaho were ever issued for it."

"How can that be?" asked Dennis?

"It is registered to a holding company called 'Blackwater Holdings'," said Tyler. "Ever hear of them?"

Claire and Dennis both shook their heads.

"Blackwater was a private military company founded in 1997 by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince. While Blackwater itself was sold to private investors back in 2011 and is now called 'Academi', this holding company was not part of that deal and is no longer affiliated with them. Whoever controls it now is buried so deep in corporate disclosures that they are invisible."

"Private military company, like mercenaries?" Dennis asked.

"That's what Blackwater was, and what Academi still is. I can't confirm what the holding company is at this point other than a shadow company for hiding who actually owns this particular car."

"Are there any other vehicles registered to this holding company?" asked Claire.

Tyler nodded once again and said, "There are thousands of them, but this is the only Corvette of any model or year. Almost every other vehicle is something that is non-descript or specialized in some fashion. For example, they have more than two hundred black Chevrolet Suburbans registered to them, but only five licensed for operation in the state of Idaho. Add to this the seven hundred black sedans manufactured by either Ford or Chevrolet and you'll come to the same conclusion that I have."

"They're hiding the ownership of vehicles typically used by the Feds in one capacity or another," said Dennis. "The vehicles you mentioned are all still the most popular with the FBI, Secret Service and virtually every other federal law enforcement agency."

"But," said Tyler, "all the agencies you mentioned purchase their vehicles through the General Services Administration and get registered as U.S. Government vehicles, they're not hidden."

"He's got a point," Claire said, "Even if that point implies that our mystery woman might be affiliated somehow with mercenaries and they might be the ones trying to derail any investigation of the Shoreline Mall incident."

"You don't think the Sheriff and his men would be able to distinguish between agents of the federal government and mercenaries?" Dennis asked incredulously.

Tyler interjected, "I'm not implying that there are mercenaries involved. I think it is still the federal government, just a very secretive part of the federal government. Possibly some highly classified group within the Department of Homeland Security. I would suggest something in Military Intelligence, but that is less likely on American soil."

"There's our conundrum," said Claire. "If we knew which agency was protecting her, we could figure out why, and if we knew why she was being protected, we could figure out which agency was doing it."

"If it's DHS, it could be more than one," said Dennis. "That department is more coordinated within itself than any other in the government. It would stand to reason that the Secret Service, for example, would have no problem getting Customs and Immigration to overlook them trying to get someone out of the country without a passport. If that is what happened to our witness from Tiffany's anyway."

Tyler checked the time once more and said, "You two feel free to banter around theories. I need to run out for a while on an errand. I may not be back today, but get in touch if anything comes up or you just want to kibitz some more."

Without waiting for a response, he packed up his laptop and headed for his car. He was just pulling into the parking spot across from Katie's garage when his cell phone rang. It was Katie's number displayed on the screen.

Chapter Nine

Tyler waited until the Bluetooth connection in his car had disengaged before answering the call.

"Hi, Katie. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. We just landed in Phoenix. Tyler, is everything okay with you?"

"Sure, why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know. I just got these weird feelings about halfway through the flight here that made me think you were... I don't know, fearful is the best way I can describe it. Did something happen?"

Fearful. Apprehensive. Concerned. All would have been appropriate terms for how he had been feeling since realizing that he may have placed Katie into the crosshairs of whoever was trying to thwart their investigation into the Shoreline Mall case. Had she discerned that from his tone of voice or was she as aware of his feelings as he was becoming of hers?

"Now might not be the best time to discuss it," he said. "Just answer me one question, are you making this trip of your own free will or were you coerced into it by someone?"

Katie laughed and said, "Tyler, seriously. Do you think that if someone was making me take this trip that they wouldn't know if I told anyone they were doing so, or let me leave a detailed itinerary for you to follow? Of course, I'm doing it of my own free will. Why is that a concern?"

Tyler was silent for a moment as he entered the code on the panel to open Katie's garage door. Once it started to rise, he said, "It's this case I'm working. The only solid witness we had just up and disappeared today under circumstances that indicate she may not have had a choice in the matter."

He found the key under the bumper of her truck as described, unlocked the door to the kitchen and returned the key.

"What does that have to do with me?" asked Katie. Tyler could hear other voices of her fellow passengers and assumed that she was deplaning as they spoke.

"Because I asked you about that car. The Corvette. It is a key lead for us in the investigation and this 'higher power', who we suspect are federal agents keep making any leads that we have vanish. I wanted to make certain that you providing me information to help track down the car didn't shine a spotlight on you and bring you to their attention."

The sounds of a busy airport terminal could once again be heard as Katie said, "Well I'm fine. Plus, I doubt that any information that I gave you will prove that valuable since you could have obtained the same knowledge through an internet search. I just saved you the effort. Tell me about this witness who disappeared. Are you sure the circumstances couldn't be explained some other way?"

Tyler stood in Katie's kitchen glancing at the printed itinerary laying on the counter under a remote and two keys on a keyring. One was a key to her condo's exterior doors. The other had a worn-down Chevrolet emblem on it, which also made its purpose obvious to him. He smiled.

"How about if I go into more detail on that later," he said. "When is your connecting flight? Oh, wait, here it is on your itinerary. Three thirty-five."

"Right, but it's in a different terminal, so would you mind talking to me as I walk there?"

"There's nothing that I would like more."

"So, you're obviously in my condo," she said. "I want to make you an offer."

"What's that?"

"Okay, I'm making some assumptions here, but I believe that you want to explore what is developing between us as much as I do..."

"No need to assume. Stand firm in your belief."

"Good. Wearing your shirt has motivated me. I want to build sense memories of you. Do you want to do the same with me?"

"Sense memories?"

"Yes. I want to build memories of how you look, how you smell, how you feel, how you sound, everything. Do you have the same interest where I am concerned?"

"I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's exactly what I want to do."

"Okay then. I sent you the pictures of me, and a couple of us together so you now have something to aid with your sight memories. I have those, plus some that Cile took of just you to help me with my sight memories. We can both hear each other's voices to start building sound memories, but I won't be satisfied with that alone. I want to have memories of how you sound when you sleep when you sing, and especially when you're gasping for breath after we finally make love to one another..."

Tyler felt a stirring in his loins, but that was insignificant to the whirlwind that her words had created in his heart. He realized that she was vocalizing his own unspoken desires and dreams where Katie herself was concerned.

She continued, "That will have to wait until I return, as will making more touch and feeling memories. But I will be working on the scent memory in the meantime and I want to offer you the chance to do the same."

Tyler chuckled, "Well you certainly have my interest piqued. What did you have in mind?"

Katie spoke to someone at the airport briefly before returning to her conversation with Tyler, "Well, since I absconded with your shirt, which still smells wonderfully of your scent, by the way, I thought it would only be fair if I offered you something of mine that might retain my scent. The problem is, I did my laundry last night, which eliminated almost all clothes of mine that still might hold my scent. Understand?"

"Okay, I'm following you so far. So, what's your offer?"

"As I see it, you have two choices. The first one is to take the one article of clothing in my hamper that didn't get washed because I was wearing them when I did my laundry..."

"Uh, you want me to take a pair of your underwear?" Tyler asked. "I don't think that would be a good solution."

"It does sound a bit perverted," Katie began.

"As long as it was with your consent, I don't think it could be classified as perverted."

"Then what else would not make it a good solution?" she asked.

Tyler sighed and said, "I would be using your underwear to create a scent memory that hasn't happened yet. I don't know what you smell like down... there. You know?"

Katie laughed and said, "Oh you are so right! I'm sorry for even mentioning it now. You must think I am one sick wench."

"Not at all, and I hope I can get a raincheck on the offer once I have the real memory that your underwear will remind me of."

"Now you better stop," she said. "Thinking about making certain memories with you will get me into a state unsuitable for flying on a commercial aircraft. Although, I wouldn't mind continuing a discussion on the subject tonight from my hotel room."

"I think that can be arranged. So, what is my second choice for making a scent memory of you?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I need to get my head away from you and my panties. Okay, the second choice you have is to sleep in my bed while I'm away. I mean I want you to sleep in my bed while I'm home too, of course, but if you sleep in it while I'm gone, you will be able to smell the remnants of my scent on the pillows and sheets. I didn't wash linens last night either."

"That actually sounds like a better choice right now. Plus, Taylor is in San Francisco until Saturday, so there is no reason for me to stay in our condo. Hey, I'll tell you what, I'll sleep in your bed with nothing on. You said that you normally sleep naked, so maybe I'll give it a try in a bed that is accustom to it."

"Oh, you bastard," Katie laughed. "You do love to tease. Well, two can play at that game Buster, just remember that."

"I look forward to all the teasing that you can conjure up, Miss Brandt. I am looking forward to it very much. I love challenges, remember?"

"Now I know why. It's because you can be so darn challenging yourself Mr. Davis."

"Miss Kettle, let me introduce you to Miss Pot."

"Haha. I'm glad you're in a better mood now. I was worried."

"Knowing you're safe will always improve my mood," Tyler told her. "So, stay safe. Okay?"

"Nice move," she said with a chuckle. "Nothing takes a girl's mind off a romantic frolic with her beau better than him sounding just like her father."

"Just do what your father says then. I'll work on reconstituting your romantic frolic thoughts later tonight. How does that sound?"

"I have every confidence that you'll be able to do that," Katie said. "I'll call when I land in Kansas City."

"And I'll answer. I better get back to work for now. Enjoy your flight."

"I'll try. Don't let work get you down, Tyler. I'm sure everything will work out. Bye for now."

"Bye Katie."

As soon as their call ended, Tyler sent Katie a text.

TYLER:

KATIE:

TYLER: I thought you weren't competitive?

KATIE: I'm not. I guess I'm just more expressive than you.

TYLER: We'll see about that. Thanks for being in my life.

KATIE: The pleasure is all mine. Take care of my guy.

TYLER: I will. You take care of my girl.

KATIE: Count on it.

TYLER:

Receiving no reply, Tyler assumed that Katie was now on the plane and had her phone turned off. He checked the itinerary for her departure time and saw that it was just about that time. He studied the details and found the information he was looking for. A scheduled flight time from Phoenix to Kansas City of just over two hours, followed by getting her rental car and driving an hour to the hotel. It might be tight, but he was confident that he could make things work out.

~~~

Katie hadn't turned her phone off. She had put it into 'airplane' mode, which disabled the cellular signal, but retained the internet signal through the airplane's onboard Wi-Fi service. She still had some communicating to do on this flight.

KATIE: Joey, what do you know about the clerk from the Tiffany's store?

JOEY: Can you be more specific?

KATIE: Where is she?

JOEY: I'm not sure right at this moment. I will need to check.

KATIE: Please do, and make certain that she is okay.

JOEY: What have you heard about her?

KATIE: I heard that she suddenly disappeared and I know that you had people monitoring her. Coincidence?

JOEY: Probably not. I'll get back to you in five.

It took a little longer than five minutes. The flight attendants had just begun the beverage service for first-class when Katie received the text notification on her phone.

JOEY: She is currently on a cargo ship in LA Harbor. It will depart shortly before dusk with a load of gypsum bound for Indonesia.

KATIE: Why is she on the ship? Was it her choice?

JOEY: It was the option she chose.

KATIE: What were her other options?

JOEY: The usual points of exile, Ascension Island, Guantanamo Bay, you know the list.

KATIE: Apparently your team felt there was a risk in her remaining here. Why?

JOEY: One of the investigators knows her and she was using that relationship to try and learn details that you wouldn't want known.

KATIE: What had she divulged so far?

JOEY: Generalizations mostly, but the impressions you made on the clerk were discussed over the phone and the investigator was going to meet with her in person to try and get more details.

KATIE: I understand. Has there been any progress finding some way to shut down the investigation?

JOEY: Ideas have been bantered around, but nothing has been decided yet. Are you planning to come home for the Labor Day weekend? Cile said that you might.

KATIE: Yes, I'll be there.

JOEY: We can discuss the ideas at that time between all of us.

KATIE: I will be bringing someone with me, so we'll need to be careful what gets discussed in front of him.

JOEY: You're bringing the guy that Cile mentioned? Your neighbor who is also one of the investigators on the case?

KATIE: Things between us are progressing to the point where I want him to meet my family. I think you all will like him.

JOEY: Well, he certainly won Cile over.

KATIE: Is JR going to come home for the weekend?

JOEY: No, he and Rockie are going to wait until Thanksgiving. They plan on coming then and staying through the New Year.

KATIE: That makes sense. Back to the clerk... She'll be taken care of, right?

JOEY: Of course. She really is getting a management position that she has been working towards and will be living in a tropical paradise. It's no form of punishment, let me tell you.

KATIE: Do me a favor Joey, have someone let the investigators know that she is okay. They don't have to tell them where she is, but my concern is that they will start digging deeper and causing more problems by trying to locate her.

JOEY: Let me think of a way to inform them without tipping our hand or making things worse.

KATIE: Thanks, Joey. Please keep me posted.

She closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat, intending to give more thought and consideration to the situation with her and the investigation that Tyler was involved in.

That objective was challenged by one of the male flight attendant's persistent flirting with the man sitting in the aisle seat across from hers. She kept her eyes closed and just listened to their little 'mating ritual'.

Katie accepted that it would have been impossible in today's society for anyone not to meet and interact with people whose sexual tendencies varied considerably from what was 'natural'. No, she corrected herself, she 'tolerated' the fact, she didn't 'accept' it.

She had participated in several 'nature versus nurture' debates on the subject of homosexuality. The scientific training that she had received was not in conflict with the moral conscience that her parents and the church had instilled into her. She had studied all species of animals and reviewed hundreds of research reports on genetics and same-sex relationships in humans and other animals. All the credible research had shown that same-sex sexuality appeared to be genetically influenced, but not genetically determined. Katie also knew that other complex human behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol use, personality, and even job satisfaction all had some genetic components that influenced them.

One mystery the researchers had never solved is how genetic variants associated with having same-sex partners could persist across generations. Such variants would presumably get weeded out if men and women who have sex with people of the same sex don't have children or have fewer children than the average person. Thus, if homosexuality had a specific genetic component, in any species of animal, the likelihood was that these animals would have become extinct through evolution.

Katie knew that most men, and a few other girls, had found her attractive. Two of her female classmates at Texas A&M had tried to entice her into "exploring" a physical relationship, but she had absolutely no desire or interest in another female's body. Thinking back on her few physical relationships with men, she admitted that there was little attraction in those instances as well. Her body had expressed 'needs' that she had unsuccessfully attempted to satisfy through these men, but nothing more.

In contrast, the attraction that she felt towards Tyler transcended the physical. She couldn't deny that she felt a physical desire for him that went beyond her body's own 'needs'. This was more natural, and instinctive in its effect on her. She had studied gibbons, the mammal related closest to humans that mated for life, and smiled as she thought about telling Tyler that he was her gibbon mate. Most human cultures had rejected sexual dimorphism over the generations, but Katie almost instinctively felt the need to be as desirable as she could be to Tyler, and only him. This was something so foreign to her on a personal level that she laughed to herself when remembering how she had flashed her derriere at Tyler the one morning that they had woken up together.

She closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. She had almost two hours of flight time to think of her desires for Tyler. She wondered if he was thinking about her.

~~~

"You won't find her. She was a real angel."

"She glowed."

"She didn't seem real."

Tyler sat at the dining room table in Katie's condo, studying his laptop and highlighting each of these comments in the statements from the witness interviews that he was reviewing again. There were more than seventy-five people who the sheriff's office had spoken to that day who claimed to have been in the food court and witnessed the actual shooting, or said that they had seen the woman at some point within the mall that day.

Tyler, like many in law enforcement, considered eyewitness accounts from the average citizen to be less than ten percent reliable. This is why he always looked for commonalities in what people claimed to have witnessed because these observations were historically much more accurate and useful to an investigation. Consequently, he had gone back to the statements in search of anything that multiple witnesses had all reported seeing.

He had started by focusing on the two dozen witnesses who the sheriff's investigators had verified to have been in the food court when the gunman had fired the shotgun into the glass wall of the mezzanine level of the mall. They all claimed that the sound of the gunshot is what had first brought their attention to the shooter and that they hadn't noticed the woman before she fired her first shot at the gunman. Some of the witnesses even claimed that they saw her "just appear out of nowhere" that day.

Tyler knew that a mandorla aureola was the radiance of luminous cloud which, in paintings of sacred personages, surrounds the whole figure. He considered the descriptions of the witnesses to the glow that they claimed emanated from the woman in the mall and thought that it would be easy to dismiss their perceptions as pollen or dust particles suspended in the air as the cause for a diffraction of sunlight that produced some coronae around her.

However, his memories of the visible field of energy, or whatever it was that he had often seen surrounding Katie prevented him from being prematurely dismissive of what the witnesses had described. How could he believe what he sometimes saw as a glowing field around Katie was real, and ignore what the witnesses claimed to have seen that day at the mall?

Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, authors, and artists had varying opinions on what the differences were between a person's spirit and their soul. The human spirit was generally seen as the heavenly component of a person's non-material make up; the part that is impersonal or universal. Whereas souls were the personal element unique to each individual.

These differences resulted in several debates through the ages related to whether it was a person's spirit or their soul that produces the mandorla aureola that frequently accompanied testimonies about miraculous sightings and holy visions.

Tyler now questioned whether both a person's spirit and their soul could produce a visible glow. He thought first about what he had seen around Katie, and how he had felt that her glow emanated from her only for him; that it was a personal part of her on display for only him to see. Since Cile or no one else had ever mentioned seeing the glow at the times when he had witnessed it, he felt confident in his belief that it was her soul producing the glow. The term "soulmate" came to mind, and that made him smile.

However, the glow that witnesses reported appearing around the Shoreline Angel had to be different. In that instance, the situation with the woman and the shooter was not a personal one, but rather one of a more universal concern for the safety of others. Had some component of the woman's spirit become so alive and active in that situation to make it visible to those around her? He wanted to find this woman more than ever, but he had to admit to himself that his desire to know her was driving him now more than any sense of duty or interest in justice.

~~~

"Why would the Department of Health and Human Services be interested in protecting the identity of our mystery woman?" asked Tyler.

The split-screen images on his laptop screen showed the unsmiling faces of Claire on one side, and Dennis on the other. All three were in separate locations, reviewing and discussing the e-mail they had each received less than fifteen minutes previous.

"The message doesn't claim that the relocation of Teme and the Shoreline Mall case are related," said Claire. "All it says is that the Department of Health and Human Services wants us to be informed that Teme is safe and traveling of her own free will, whatever that means."

"Oh, come on," said Dennis. "Why else would they even bother to communicate with the team investigating the Shoreline Mall shooting unless the two events are related?"

"I agree with Dennis," Tyler said. "But why communicate with us at all? It's not like we were making any progress in the investigation of Teme's disappearance. Are they afraid that if we kept looking for Teme that we might stumble onto something that they don't want us to?"

"Maybe it's a form of professional courtesy," said Claire. "They had to know that we would be concerned about the welfare of our witness. So, they're letting us know that even if we can't do anything about them having the ability to thwart our investigation, they're telling us that they respect us enough to let us know that Teme is okay."

"But again," said Tyler, "Why would the Department of Health and Human Services be showing us a professional courtesy, if that's what this is? Does either of you believe that this is the federal agency related to the Shoreline Mall woman? How does it fit?"

Tyler didn't receive a response but saw Dennis also focused on his screen as the two men watched Claire's eyes as she was obviously reading something else on her computer screen. They waited patiently for her to finish and return her attention to her partners.

"I don't see any positions within the Department of Health and Human Services that would require the person to be armed," said Claire. "It's mostly doctors, nurses, scientists and the type of support personnel one would expect. So, my guess is that our mystery woman doesn't work for that federal agency."

"I don't think that this 'professional courtesy' could have been more unprofessionally delivered if it had come from Smokey the Bear," said Tyler. "They're telling us that whichever federal agency is involved, that they have the ability to use any other federal agency to derail our investigation."

"And which federal agency or agencies have that kind of ability?" asked Claire.

"Well," said Dennis, "in theory, any of the departments under the executive branch would all answer to the President or someone on his staff. While I'm not accusing the President of being involved - yet, Cabinet-level officials from multiple agencies could be cooperating on this for some reason. Maybe it really is a matter of national security."

"Wait!" Tyler exclaimed. "We have been purposely ignoring the shooter during this investigation..."

"We agreed that there wasn't any point," said Claire. "There was never anything that pointed to the shooter knowing the mystery woman or her knowing him. It was just a random encounter so why waste time on the shooter if our objective was to find the woman?"

Now it was Tyler's eyes that indicated he was busy reading something else in front of him, which they assumed was a file tablet, so Dennis and Claire waited patiently for him to finish.

"Claire, do you still have Vern Martin's cell number?" asked Tyler as he continued to read.

"Of course. Why?"

"Give him a call," said Tyler. "Ask him who conducted the autopsy on the shooter and where the results are in their files. I'm not finding them."

Claire had a puzzled expression on her face but made the requested call without asking her partner any further questions. The conversation with the sheriff detective was short, and Claire was soon relaying the answers that Tyler had been seeking.

"Vern said that the feds took custody of the shooter's body before the coroner could do an autopsy," she told Tyler and Dennis. "They said that they would do the autopsy and any results that were not deemed critical to national security would be shared with the coroner. All that the coroner's office ever received was a death certificate from the Department of Health and Human Services that listed the cause of death as blood loss due to trauma involving the femoral artery. It doesn't even mention that he was shot."

"Are the Feds trying to protect the gunman and the woman who shot him?" asked Dennis. "This doesn't make any sense. Maybe there is some tie in between the two..."

"The sheriff's investigators never even received confirmation on the slugs being 380 ACP's?" Tyler asked Claire, who simply shook her head.

"Everything we know from eyewitness accounts, reconstruction of the path the gunman took through the mall, the activities of the woman while in the mall, and what little we have on the video, tell me that their encounter was strictly coincidental," said Tyler. "Then why would the Feds take control of the gunman's body? What else do we know - or should I say, 'not know' about this guy?"

When Claire made no obvious signs of responding, Dennis opened his file tablet on the case and began scanning the information it contained. They had combined and shared the contents of the multiple file tablets so that they would all have access to the same information. It only took him a few seconds to find the section that reported on what little the sheriff's investigators had recorded on the gunman.

"According to the report, his name was Tom Adams," said Dennis. "The ID came from a blood sample DNA test because he had no identification on his person and his fingerprints weren't in the system. It's noted in the report that they had to use the blood at the scene because the Feds refused to allow any other DNA source to be taken from the body before they had removed it for the autopsy."

"And what did they find out about who this Tom Adams was?" asked Tyler as he began reviewing a different section on his own file tablet.

"Let's see," said Dennis as he continued to read relevant portions of the report. "No driver's license or ID card was ever issued to him in the State of California, the pick-up that was identified as the one he drove to the mall had been reported stolen from Riverside County earlier that day, no place of residence has been identified, no..."

"No criminal record that they could find," Tyler interrupted as he located the information on his file tablet. The two men continued reading and sharing details on the gunman as Claire sat silently. When they had finished reviewing the sheriff's report, they each set their file tablet aside and return to the video on their computer screens.

For more than six years, since the Supreme Court had ruled that the First Amendment didn't provide members of the press unconditional protection against lawsuits by victims of violent crime, the major news agencies had decided on their own to cease publishing the names or any details about crime suspects. Where terrorists and mass murderers once experienced fame and notoriety at the expense of their victims, the press now focused their coverage on the victims and the impact that the actions of the un-named criminals had on them and their families.

Where law enforcement once had to keep a tight rein on any facts in a case to keep the press from reporting information that could jeopardize an investigation, the three investigators, in this case, found themselves wishing that some intrepid journalist had discovered more than anyone in the law enforcement community had about the gunman.

"The guy was a non-entity," said Dennis. "I wonder now how there even came to be a DNA record of him in the system for them to match to."

"The report doesn't mention which DNA database the match came from, but most states have been recording DNA from birth records for decades now. Hell, he could have submitted his own DNA sample to one of those genealogy tracking companies trying to find out his family heritage. How old do you think he was?"

"Late twenties maybe," Dennis said. "Claire, what do you think? I've heard that women are better at gauging a man's age than men are."

"Only when we can cut them open to count their rings," she said with a slight smile. "I think late twenties would be close though in this case."

"I think it's interesting that the sheriff investigators didn't speculate on a motive for the gunman targeting the mall that day," said Tyler. "There's no mention of a manifesto or anything being found which would explain why he did what he did."

"Me too," said Dennis, "but they did speculate on him likely having at least one accomplice due to him parking on the opposite side of the mall from the food court. I think their assumption that he would have tried to exit through the closer door and had someone waiting for him there for a ride is a reasonable one to make. Based upon the body armor he was wearing, he likely assumed that he would survive any attempt to stop him. Crappy luck for him that the mystery woman had the foresight to target a fatal area not protected by his armor, and then do so with the requisite skill to bring him down."

"So, partners," Tyler said. "Do we have anything here that would either explain the interest of the Feds and in particular the Department of Health and Human Services has in the gunman or anything that we could use to try to find out more on who he was?"

"I think the Fed's interest in the gunman is tied to protecting who the woman is," said Claire. "We need to stay focused on finding her. That's what the man wants from us."

"I agree that the Fed's interest is probably on protecting the identity of the woman," said Tyler, "but I don't think we can ignore the fact that who the gunman was might help us accomplish our mission of finding her."

"I agree with Tyler," said Dennis. "I think we should try to find out who both the gunman was as well as who the woman is."

"Okay," said Claire. "Here's what I propose. I will go talk to Vern and the other investigators to see if there is anything further on the gunman that is not in the reports which might help us identify him, such as which DNA database they used. I'll focus on the gunman for a few days if you two double down on finding the woman. How's that sound?"

"What about the leads you are following up on related to the jewelry?" asked Tyler. "Do you want one of us to take that off your hands?"

"I'll keep it for now. If something turns up that requires more follow-up, I might pass that off to one of you, but for now, it's just a waiting game."

"Sounds good," Tyler said. "Let's keep in touch over the next few days since none of us will be spending much time in the office. How about tomorrow at this same time?"

Tyler saw both of his partners merely nod as they each ended the video meeting on their end. He wondered why neither of them had mentioned the unfamiliar setting that he had in the background of his video feed. While the condo that he shared with his sister was a mirrored opposite of Katie's where he was now sitting, there were obvious differences in paint color, furniture and wall decor between the two units. He hoped that his two partners were observant enough to notice these differences, but if they were, why hadn't either of them commented on it?

~~~

Katie thought that she must have been staring at the contents of the travel box on the bed in her hotel room for at least ten minutes, but she knew that it had only been about thirty seconds before she finally set her bag down next to it.

The box had two sections, one cool and one room temperature. In the first section, Katie sorted through the assorted crackers, nuts, and chips with amazement that what Tyler had selected - and she knew without question that he had selected each item - were all snack items that she would have chosen herself. Moving to the cooler section of the box, she giggled in joy over the containers of sliced carrots, olives, celery sticks, and assorted cheeses that Tyler had selected.

When they had spoken on the drive from the airport to her hotel, she had promised Tyler that she would call him again once she had unpacked and was ready for bed. Seeing his gift changed her plans. She couldn't wait to speak to him, so she sent him a text message.

KATIE: Wow! Just Wow!

TYLER: Nice hotel room, I take it?

KATIE: Wonderful and amazing boyfriend is more like it. Even if you hadn't picked my favorite travel snacks, the thought, and care that you put into the gift tugs at my heart. I am overwhelmed by it... by YOU.

TYLER: Wouldn't flowers have been more romantic?

KATIE: Heavens no! I mean flowers are always nice to get, but they wouldn't be very practical to send me when I wouldn't be able to keep them for more than one night. This gift is so perfect and is without a doubt the most romantic thing that anyone has ever given me.

TYLER: If that is the most romantic thing that anyone has ever given you, well, that is just sad on so many levels.

KATIE: Probably, but then you're not like anyone I have ever known. Let me get unpacked and ready for bed, then I'll call you. How does that sound?

TYLER: I'm in your bed waiting for your call.

KATIE: With video or without?

TYLER: A gentleman always defers to the lady on such matters.

KATIE: As he should. I'll call you in a few minutes. Thanks again for the snacks.

Katie moved the travel box from the center of the king-size bed to the top of the dresser in the hotel room and then removed her needed toiletry items from her bag. She wasn't going to bother unpacking anything else for the evening.

She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth, and decided that she wouldn't wear the shirt that she had permanently borrowed from Tyler. She propped a couple of the pillows against the headboard and crawled under the sheets. Sitting up in the bed with her knees bent provided her with a place to set her cell phone without having to hold it in her hands. Positioning the sheets to cover her bare breasts, she selected the video call option and called Tyler.

It took Tyler a couple of seconds to switch to the video call on his phone once he received the request. He was greeted by Katie's smiling face, bright and with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"Good Lord, woman, you are such a beautiful sight," he told her.

Katie studied the image of Tyler on her screen and her breath caught momentarily. Like herself, he was propped up on pillows leaning against the headboard of her bed, but in his case, the sheets covering him stopped just before his waist, leaving his upper torso fully exposed. Her eyes wandered to the thickening of hair lowest on his stomach, and she knew that he was exposing the upper extremes of his pubic hair - probably intentionally trying to tease her.

"You're not so hard to look at yourself, fine sir." Katie batted her eyelids coquettishly and said, "In fact, I wouldn't object to seeing more of you."

Tyler smiled at her as he reached down and lifted the edge of the sheet lying just below his waist. He watched Katie's focused attention shifting from his face to the hand holding the sheet. He held the position for several teasing seconds before dropping the sheet back into its original place across his lap.

Katie's eyes returned to his, and he saw a smoldering in them that hadn't been present previously. Her smiling face reassured him that the looming fire he saw in her eyes had its origin in her desire, and not from anger over his teasing.

"I suppose it is wisest to delay our first 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' session until we're alone together," Katie said. "Just know this, Mr. Oglethorpe-Davis, I was very serious when I said that I wanted to create more sight memories of you, and I will not be satisfied until I have every inch of your body firmly entrenched as a visual memory for me to recall whenever we're apart."

"Just know this, Miss Brandt, I do not possess a photographic memory, so it will take even more visual inspection of your body before I develop the sight memories of you that I crave."

Katie giggled and quickly dropped the sheet over her left breast, providing Tyler with just the briefest glance at her areola and nipple before repositioning the sheet. Since the first time that Katie had felt her covered breasts against Tyler's body, she had desired his attention on them. She was proud of her breasts and wanted Tyler to be proud of them as well.

Tyler was laughing and it took him a few seconds before he could respond to Katie's flash of her breast.

"I suppose me pointing out the fact that you can see both of my breasts while I only got a quick flash of one of yours would be a waste of time."

"You would suppose right," Katie replied, still grinning at him. "However, when I get home on Friday, I promise that you will be allowed to count every freckle on my body if that is your desire. I've never been overly modest, to begin with, but with you, I think I might need therapy to ever accept wearing clothes in your presence - as long as you reciprocate in kind."

"I look forward to your return, but for far more reasons than the promise of a freckle audit. I am finding that I really miss you when you're not around."

"I feel the same way," said Katie. Then she asked, "Does your cell phone have the built-in stand on the back?"

"Yes, why?"

"Let's try something. Watch me and then see if you can get close to what I am going to try."

Tyler saw the image of Katie being replaced by a white screen as she had set her cell phone down onto the bed beside her. After a few seconds, the image bounced around as Katie extended the stand on the back of her cell phone and placed it at the foot of her bed. Katie returned to lean back against the pillows, but the arrangement of the sheet covering her had changed dramatically.

Katie had carefully positioned herself and the sheet so that her legs were now exposed, with the sheet being bunched up between her legs, strategically covering her pubic region while leaving her hips visible. The sheet spread out again as it rose her body so that her breasts were once again covered. It only took Tyler a few seconds to follow her lead, since all he had to do was pull his legs out from under the sheet and position the bunched-up portion over his pubic area. He leaned down and placed his cell phone at the foot of the bed before resting back against his pillows.

"Now what?" he asked.

He saw a rekindling of desire begin to smolder in Katie's eyes as she said, "Now I am going to do everything I can from sixteen hundred miles away to raise a tent in my boyfriend's sheet."

Chapter Ten

"You made all of these arrangements yesterday morning?" Tyler asked.

He saw Katie nodding her response before she verbalized it over their video call. As she had promised him last night, she had called him this morning as soon as she had gotten dressed and ready for her meeting with the owners of the vehicle she had hoped to buy.

"Sure, but I had some help from my mom. While I was making arrangements with the sellers to show me the SSR, my mom started routing out my course back to California so I could determine where I would need to book hotel rooms along the way."

This time Tyler nodded before speaking, "I'm glad that you arranged to have them bring the SSR to you at the hotel instead of meeting them someplace unfamiliar to you."

Katie smiled at his comment. She was finding Tyler's concern for her well-being endearing and then realized that she had never expressed similar concerns towards him. She had advised him not to try to learn things about her on his own, but did he recognize that as her being concerned about him or as protecting herself? This was something for her to think about on her return trip.

"It only makes sense," she replied. "I selected this hotel because it has an off-airport return counter for my rental car and a Notary Public on-premises. If the SSR meets my expectations, we can conduct the transaction here, I can return my rental car, check out of the hotel and be on Interstate 35 heading back to my boyfriend by ten o'clock this morning."

Tyler glanced at the itinerary that Katie had left for him and asked, "And you feel that you got enough sleep last night to drive over nine hours to Tucumcari, New Mexico?"

"Sometimes it's not the quantity of sleep, but the quality," Katie told him. "Playing with my boyfriend seems to result in very sound and restful sleep."

Then she giggled and said, "Making love to him might put me into a comatose state, but I am excited to find out. Anyway, I'll be fine, especially now that I have all your thoughtful snacks to nibble on while I drive."

Tyler had been sitting at the dining room table in Katie's condo drinking coffee when she had called him this morning. She had been disappointed to find him dressed in workout clothes, but he had reminded her that she too was already dressed, which is what they had planned when their call had ended after eleven o'clock last night, Pacific time, which made it after one o'clock in the morning in Kansas. Based upon the time that Katie had called him this morning, she couldn't have slept more than five or six hours.

"I have a friend at the DMV who can assist you with getting your new vehicle registered once you get back," Tyler offered. "She could probably get you a waiver for the fuel and emission rules that would restrict your ability to drive it much here..."

"I appreciate the offer," Katie said, "but my dad will take care of it for me. Since I am still legally a resident of Texas, it will have Texas plates, so that alone will exempt it from the California requirements. Didn't you notice the Texas plates on my truck?"

"Oh, right," said Tyler. "That reminds me that I need to move it over in the garage for you. I'll take care of that this morning before I leave."

"Thanks for remembering," Katie said. "How's Sinbad doing?"

"He's a pretty low-maintenance pet, isn't he? Don't you have to clean up after him at some point?"

"Jerboas in captivity are very low maintenance," Katie said in agreement. "Sinbad will typically pick one of his many burrows as a sort of outhouse and only use that one to relieve himself. Once I figure out which of the containers he has chosen, I keep an eye on it and switch out the sand every couple of weeks. I must be doing something right because he hasn't moved out yet. I should let you know that Sinbad is over four years old. The life expectancy for a jerboa is only two to three years, so he may be getting close to the end. I wouldn't want you to freak out if he died under your watch."

"Wow, thanks for letting me know. He seemed fine this morning when I fed him."

"That will be the tell," said Katie. "If you open the top to feed him and he doesn't come, then you'll know that he has probably died in one of his burrows. If that happens, I'll take care of it when I get back."

"Just make sure that you invite Taylor to the service," Tyler said.

"A funeral service for a jerboa?" Katie asked.

"Taylor would likely hold a funeral service for a housefly that she had killed herself with a flyswatter," Tyler joked. "Seriously, she is enamored with the little guy, so I would considerate it a favor if you let her grieve for him when the time comes."

"Well, this isn't a very romantic conversation," Katie said. "By the way, when does Taylor get home?"

"She'll arrive back into LAX on Saturday morning. My parents will pick her up and bring her back here on Saturday afternoon so they can see the condo for the first time. If you want to meet my parents, that would be your chance."

"I volunteer at the shelter on Saturday morning," Katie said. "What time do you expect them to be bringing Taylor home?"

"I'm not certain, but I can suggest that they try to arrive around the middle of the afternoon so that they can get a tour of the condo before we have an early dinner. They'll like the idea because it means that they can get back to Pacific Palisades before it gets too late."

"That would work for my schedule. Here's an idea for you, before they get there, come over to my place teach me how to make your wonderful Margaritas. I'll mix up a batch so that after their tour, you can bring them over for drinks. I'll make dinner reservations for us and it will be my treat. Do either of your parents have any dietary restrictions or dislikes?"

Katie expected Tyler to voice some objection to her suggestion that she pay for dinner with his parents, but he was nodding at her as he said, "That sounds like a good plan, and as far as what my parents will eat, I think curry would be the only possible ingredient we might want to avoid. My father once got food poisoning from food at an Indian restaurant, so the smell of curry isn't one of his favorite things."

Katie's cell phone emitted a notification sound.

"Hang on a second," she said. Without waiting for a response, she paused their video call to check the notification. Her image reappeared within seconds.

"They're in the lobby waiting for me," she explained to Tyler. "Let me go meet them and check out the SSR. I'll call you back before I leave the hotel. Okay?"

"Sure thing," said Tyler. "Good luck. I hope the SSR is everything you're looking for."

"Me too. Tyler, while this hasn't been one of our most romantic conversations, I enjoyed it. I want to let you know that I don't think that I'm falling in love with you any longer."

"Don't get cute with me young lady," Tyler said with a grin. "We both knew that we could only fall for so long. The 'falling' is over for me too. Now we get to start building on the love that we landed in."

Katie's smile was as radiant as Tyler had ever seen it, and he wished that he was with her in person to see if the air around her was glowing. He had never seen her glow captured in any of the pictures of her, even though he had seen it in person at the time that some of the pictures had been taken. Video apparently didn't capture her glow either.

"I do love you, Tyler. I'll call you in an hour or so. Bye."

They blew each other kisses before terminating the video call. Tyler left his cell phone on the dining room table and headed for his morning shower with a smile on his face.

~~~

"There you are..."

"Sorry I'm late," Tyler said to Dennis as he passed his desk on the way to his own. "You wouldn't believe the challenges I had trying to move Katie's truck in her garage this morning. Where's Claire?"

"Would you believe that she's on her way to Sacramento? Apparently, she is interviewing for the district supervisor vacancy for the State Police in San Bernardino. So, what were these challenges you're talking about?"

The California State Police was merged with the California Highway Patrol in 1995 but remained the oldest law enforcement agency within the state. While charged primarily with protecting State property and officials, such as the Governor and Attorney General, the State Police had several other investigative and patrol responsibilities within the State.

Tyler got his laptop situated on his desk and then turned his chair to face Dennis, "You ever drive a vehicle with a manual transmission?"

"Only in a simulator," Dennis replied. "Didn't all manufacturing of manual transmission cease around 2020?"

"Probably," said Tyler, "but Katie's truck is a classic from back in the Sixties. I found a video online that showed me how to use the clutch and shift through the gears, but getting the feel for how to do everything in sync was much harder than I imagined."

Dennis laughed and said, "I remember in the simulator, it took me almost an hour to get the thing moving without stalling it."

"Stalling was the least of my challenges," Tyler moaned. "All I had to do was depress the clutch and release the parking brake to get her truck rolling out of her garage. The hardest part was trying to back it back in. I was so tense about running the back of her truck through the wall of her garage that I barely gave it any gas as I was releasing the clutch, so the damn thing either stalled on me or rolled father out into the alley with every attempt I made."

Dennis tried not to laugh but failed terribly. "So, what did you do?"

"I finally decided to just turn the truck around in the alley and then park it front-first into the garage. You would have to sit in the cab of this truck to understand, but it is a weird experience to gauge your distance from the wall when you're basically placing the windshield right against it."

"How can you position the windshield almost against the wall without the front of the truck not damaging the wall first?" Dennis asked.

"I'll show you," said Tyler. He did a quick internet search on his phone and showed the picture of a truck of the same model year as Katie's to Dennis.

"Jesus!" said Dennis. "Parking that thing would be bad enough, but riding in it would pucker my sphincter for sure. Your face would be inches from anything in front of you."

Tyler put his phone back into its case and said, "Been there, done that. Anyway, anything new from Alfaro?"

"Yeah. As we anticipated, once we let him know about that Blackwater company in Idaho possibly being the registered owner of the mystery woman's car, he contacted his counterpart, the Attorney General for Idaho, and asked for her assistance getting cooperation for us with this company. She denied his request and encouraged him not to pursue any administrative subpoenas for this company's records because they would not be honored by any law enforcement agency or court in her state."

"How did Alfaro respond?"

Dennis pointed to Tyler's computer and said, "You should have an e-mail from him directing you to prepare the subpoena duces tecum for the registration records immediately. When Idaho refuses to honor it, Alfaro will request an immediate hearing before the Ninth Circuit for the Court of Appeals. Idaho will naturally appeal any ruling by the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco to the Fourteenth Circuit Court in Boise. Whoever this mystery woman is, she'll be using a walker rather than driving a car by the time the courts settle anything."

Tyler shook his head and turned back towards his computer, "No, once Alfaro leaves office or gets some other feather up his ass, the appeals will get dismissed by all the courts involved. I'll get the subpoena done this morning regardless."

"From what I'm hearing," Dennis said, "all it would take is a bad cut in the wrong spot to get Alfaro out of office."

Tyler turned back around and asked, "What?"

"You ever hear of 'Bombay Blood'?" asked Dennis. When Tyler just shook his head, Dennis explained.

"Everyone has heard that there are four basic blood types, right? Type A, type B, type AB, and type O, and then there is the positive and negative version of each of those. What most people don't know is that there is an extremely rare blood type called 'Hh'. It has something to do with the antigens of this blood type not being compatible with any of the other blood types, so a person that has Bombay Blood cannot receive a transfusion from any other blood type."

"That's how I heard about this with Alfaro. His protective detail tried to get his parents to donate blood in case Alfaro ever needs a transfusion, but both of them have type 'Aa' blood. I have a friend in protective services and she was telling me how serious this could be if Alfaro gets shot or has any need for a blood transfusion. They're trying to convince him to establish a storage pool of his own blood, but the man is too afraid of needles to allow them to draw any."

"He would have an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction," said Tyler. "I knew someone in college whose blood type got misidentified and he died within hours of having a blood transfusion. Something about his own blood attacking the donor blood..."

"Exactly," said Dennis. "So needless to say, the folks in protective services are sweating things until they find a source for blood in case Alfaro ever needs it."

Tyler chuckled and said, "I wonder if this will prevent him from making so many public appearances for a while." Then more seriously, he asked, "Your friend didn't mention any heightened risks or known threats against Alfaro, did she?"

"No, but there are enough threats against him on any given day simply by virtue of the office he holds, and his polarizing political beliefs to give his protective detail a heightened level of concern."

"Well," said Tyler, "as of right now, he is still the boss. What are you working on today?"

Dennis said, "I will be following up with some contacts who have resources within the Defense Department that might be willing to cooperate with figuring out any national security interests in the Shoreline Mall incident."

He had a grin on his face as he added, "Then at one, I have an appointment to get my tux for tomorrow night's date with Haley Simmons."

"You dog!" laughed Tyler. "That was fast, even for you."

Dennis just shrugged and said, "I would like to think that it was my dashing looks, irresistible charm, or virile presence that did the trick, but I know it was your recommendation that sold Haley on letting me be her escort. That, and her agent convincing her that being seen with a black man would be good for her career. At least that's what she told me when we made the arrangements last night."

"I just got you in the door," Tyler said. "I'm sure that once you and Haley spend a little time together, she'll appreciate you as more than a 'trophy' escort. She really is a sweet kid."

Tyler heard the notification of an incoming text message on his cell phone. Retrieving it out of the pouch on his belt, he glanced at the screen.

"I'll be right back," he told Dennis as he walked out of the office with his cell phone still in his hand. He returned in a few minutes.

"That was Katie," he explained to Dennis. "She just wanted to let me know that she bought the car, truck, whatever they call the thing, and is going to check out of her hotel. Once she's on the road, she'll call me."

Dennis rose from his desk and packed up his laptop as he said, "Seems like a lot of trouble to go through to get a vehicle that she will hardly be able to drive here. Does she know that anything with an internal combustion engine made before the emission regulations deadline will have restrictions put on its use when it gets registered?"

"Yeah," Tyler said, "but as Katie explained it to me, she is officially a non-resident student in California, so as long as she registers the thing in her state of residence, which is Texas, she will be exempt from the restrictions placed upon residents of California. I guess her dad will get the title and registration arranged for her, which he must have some pretty solid connections to do that with the vehicle not even being present for inspection at the time of registration. Speaking of dads, I need to remember to call mine this morning to check their plans for next Saturday. Katie wants to meet them and take us all to dinner."

Dennis checked the clock on the wall as he picked up his computer bag. Placing the strap over his shoulder, he told Tyler, "Traffic should be died down enough by now for me to make it to the Los Angeles Air Force Base without too much of a delay. Call me if you need anything, otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Tyler gave a mock salute and said, "Drive safe. I'll be here holding down the fort if you need anything."

Once Dennis had left, Tyler began catching up on the morning e-mail messages. As Dennis had promised, there was the one from the Attorney General himself directing Tyler to prepare a subpoena duces tecum demanding access to the vehicle registration details of Blackwater Holdings.

There were a few other mundane departmental notices, but one of these stood out in Tyler's mind as awfully coincidental. It was a reminder to all agency employees of their required compliance with the State Employees non-disclosure policy. Tyler couldn't staunch his suspicion that this reminder was somehow related to the revelation that Dennis had shared earlier about Alfaro's rare blood type.

His cell phone rang, and since he was alone in the office, he immediately put it on the speaker of the phone when he answered it.

"Hi, Katie. I take it that the SSR is everything that you had hoped?"

"Tyler, this truck is amazing!" Katie exclaimed. "It has everything I was looking for and is so fun to drive. I might even let you drive it sometimes just so I can watch your reaction to how it handles. It's like a Corvette with a truck bed."

Tyler chuckled at Katie's exuberance and asked, "Have you put the top down yet?"

"I did while at the hotel parking lot, but it's up now since the noise on the interstate would make hearing you on the phone a challenge. I got onto I-35 about six miles back. I should be in Wichita in a little over two hours."

"Are you taking I-35 all the way to I-40?"

"Heavens no," Katie said. "In Wichita, I'll cut over to US-54 and use that to cut the corners of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. It will drop me onto I-40 just before Tucumcari, where I'll stop for the night."

"At this rate, you could be back here by late Wednesday or early Thursday."

"I know," Katie agreed. "By taking I-40 and timing things right, I'll avoid any major cities except Albuquerque and any rush hour congestion that might cause a delay. You realize of course that I may be looking for my boyfriend to sleep with me this week on a school night."

"You know something, I like being considered your boyfriend. It makes me prouder than I could ever explain to have that honor bestowed upon me. However, I hope you know that I have loftier ambitions."

"Do tell," Katie giggled.

"Would the role of 'lover' be too much of a leap for you. I mean you don't have to introduce me as such, but I would like to hold that place in your heart and mind at some point."

He could hear Katie's gasp before she composed herself and replied, "Oh, me too, Sweetie. I would love nothing more. We better pause this for now or I'll end up driving straight through, and that wouldn't be safe. See? I am keeping myself safe just as you and my father would have wanted."

Tyler laughed heartily and said, "That's my girl. Bring my lover home to me safe and sound."

"With that kind of inspiration, you can count on it!"

~~~

"So, we agree that the likelihood of Alfaro cooperating remains non-existent?"

Joey Reid spoke for the others, "Not unless we can find something that will convince him that cooperation would be in his best interest. The problem is that his support base wouldn't care if he was diddling kindergarten boys or selling family pets to Chinese restaurants. In addition to all the illegal immigrants that count on him for support against the federal immigration efforts, he has nearly one-hundred percent support from the liberal population of the state."

"Why couldn't she have shot the son of a bitch in Texas, or any one of the other sane states in this country?", another of the group asked. "Why did she have to do it in fucking California of all places?"

The other seven people present ignored these questions, recognizing them as frustrated and rhetorical expressions, similar to what they all felt.

"Anything new on the motive for the gunman targeting that particular mall?" asked another of the group.

"Our investigative team is still working on that," was the reply from Jason Reid's deputy head of intelligence. "The forensics and autopsy information are secured and no stone is being left unturned to learn who Andrew Carmichael was. Kris Acosta is also suspicious of the tattoo on Carmichael's body. Its placement is irregular, almost as if it was applied as an afterthought, and the symbology is foreign to anyone who Kris has shown a picture of it to."

"Do you have a copy of the picture?" someone asked.

After a few minutes, a photo of a tattoo on the upper back of a man's thigh had been reviewed by all the participants.

"There's something familiar about it," said Jason, "almost like a crude rendering of something I've seen before."

Bobby Brandt joined the discussion, "I agree. It resembles a cave painting or hieroglyphic depiction of a human heart, but that's all I can make out clearly. Who has Kris run this by so far?"

"Mostly different sections within the FBI; Organized Crime, anti-terrorism, groups like that."

"Have her expand her queries to the ATF and Secret Service. Also, ask for it to be shared over at FLETC. Someone coming through training there might recognize it," Bobby suggested. "Not everything gets shared between these agencies as frequently as we would like."

"On another subject, what about this investigator on the case getting so personally attached to Katie? What is the risk assessment there?"

Bobby spoke again, "Her mother insists that whatever relationship might be developing between Katie and this investigator is strictly of a personal nature and not related to the case. I tend to agree."

"And the other investigators on the case?"

"They're only following Alfaro's directions. If we can get him off the scent, then they'll follow."

"So, what's our action plan?" asked Jason Reid.

"The same as always," said Bobby Brandt. "Keeping Katie's involvement secret means that we need to find a way to control or shut down any investigations aimed at identifying her."

"We're walking a fine line there," said Jason. "There would be too many questions from too many directions if there wasn't some trace of an investigation underway. There are still too many unanswered questions for the media or politicians to accept. Controlling the investigations has been our best strategy so far."

"We're not disputing that," said Patty Brandt, "but it was determined when the incident occurred that the current relationship between this administration and the State of California would influence the amount of control that we would be able to employ. Has there been any progress with either of their Senators?"

Joey shook his head and answered his aunt's question, "Not much. Senator Lange owes her election to the pro-immigrant votes that Alfaro brought her, so she won't do anything that would turn him against her. Senator Munoz is preparing to announce his candidacy for President and has strong support from the anti-gun advocacy groups around the country. There are a few members of their congressional delegation who we think would cooperate with our efforts, but their influence within the state is essentially limited to their own districts."

"Okay," said Bobby, "let's all keep studying the options. Katie and her mom aren't too concerned that Katie's new friend might discover something that points the investigation toward her, and I trust their judgment there. Hell, he may actually provide us with some ideas that we haven't considered."

Patty kissed Bobby's lips and said, "Speaking of Katie and her new boyfriend, aren't you supposed to be getting her new car registered so that she can drive it out here for the Labor Day weekend?"

"It's already in the works," Bobby assured her. "Katie sent me the vehicle identification number as soon as she had the title transferred from the seller. The new plates and registration should be at the condo by Friday afternoon."

"She seems pretty excited about the SSR," said Patty. "I know she misses driving the Corvette."

Bobby laughed at his wife's comment and said, "You don't seem too heartbroken over Katie missing her car."

Patty stuck her tongue out and said, "She told me that I could drive it until it was no longer on anyone's radar. I offered to have it painted a new color for her, but she refused. I can't help it if mother and daughter both love the same car and by the way, look good driving it."

"Well, maybe Katie will be satisfied with the SSR and let you keep her Corvette," said Bobby. "But, be ready to park it at the club over the Labor Day weekend."

~~~

Katie was enjoying the SSR and was enjoying the route that her mother had suggested. Once she had reached Wichita, she transitioned from Interstate 35 to US Highway 54, which ran concurrent with US Highway 400 as it headed towards the west Kansas plains.

Once mainly a two-lane farm-to-market highway, or route of exodus for farmworkers and others fleeing the 'Dust Bowl' era hardships for the promise of a better life in California, Highway 54 was now a toll freeway for its entire distance. The renewable energy revolution of the past decade had spawned hundreds of solar and wind energy operations across the prairies of middle America, but there remained thousands of acres of corn and wheat still being farmed among the solar panels and wind turbines that Katie saw on both sides of the highway as she drove past them.

Approaching the town of Pratt, Kansas, Katie saw a sign indicating the interchange with US Highway 281 in a few miles. She smiled as she realized that if she took the southbound exit onto US 281, her home in Texas would be about seven hundred miles away. While she missed her family and her childhood home, she quickly remembered that thirteen hundred miles in the direction she was currently heading waited the man that she felt held the promise of her future in his heart.

With the top down on the SSR, Katie could almost imagine that she was driving her Corvette. While the handling, suspension, and power difference between the two vehicles were significant, cruising on a wide-open freeway on a sunny, summer day negated most of them.

The last time she had driven her Corvette was from the Shoreline Mall parking lot to her garage at the condo. The drive had taken less than twenty minutes, barely enough time for her to let JR and Rockie know what had happened, then to make contact with the operations center at Brandt Consulting before pulling into the garage and closing the door behind her.

She had watched solemnly as a team of US Marshals had arrived to drive the Corvette up the ramp of an Allied Moving and Storage van. Within two hours of the shooting, her Corvette had been on its way to her home in Texas, her hair had been cut, and the clothes she had worn to the mall had been packed and were on their way to an incinerator.

The female US Marshal who had cut Katie's hair and advised her on how to further alter her appearance took possession of Katie's P380. She said that they would disassemble it before destroying each piece separately. Katie did not doubt that this is exactly what they had done.

Her parents, her uncle Jason, her cousin Joey, and sometimes even Cile would keep her informed about steps taken to keep her identity a secret. While she hadn't considered the situation humorous in the slightest, a few of the actions taken, such as deleting all the video records from the mall servers had brought a brief smile to her face.

She had pictured her sister-in-law, Rockie, sitting at her dining room table, twelve-thousand miles away in Australia, and nineteen hours ahead in time, as she skillfully hacked into the mall security system to plant the bogus malware that was deleting the files at the same time the Sherriff's technician was trying to access them. While the hack could have been done by someone less skilled than Rockie, Katie knew that she wouldn't have entrusted it to anyone else and she was grateful that Rockie had jumped in so quickly to help her out.

Katie was grateful to all of her family and their associates, in and out of the government, who had been doing their best to protect her identity. This was why she had initially feared to get too involved with Tyler, and kept him at a distance for the first few weeks. She had recognized something in him, however, that she was only now coming to understand; he was 'genuine'.

Tyler commanded - no that wasn't right - he received without commanding, the respect of people simply by his presence. The confidence, compassion, strength, and intelligence that he exuded were real and tangible. He didn't have to exist solely in his professional persona as a law enforcement officer to gain cooperation or respect from people. His wealth played no role in his respect for others. Tyler had told her and Cile that he considered morality to be his best feature, and Katie couldn't disagree.

Katie was also realizing that the traits that had attracted her to Tyler were ones that she was very familiar with. Both her father and her brother, JR, had always been guided by their morality, but she had become so accustomed to seeing the 'genuine' traits exhibited by them, that she had taken them for granted. It wasn't until she saw them in Tyler that she had come to understand how absent they were in most other men she had encountered.

There was one other characteristic about Tyler that when compared to her father and brother had convinced Katie that she could trust him. She knew by the way that Tyler looked at her, treated her, and made her feel so special and adored that he would never let anything happen to her if it was within his power to prevent it.

The question was if her identity did become known, would Tyler have the power to prevent that information from becoming public? While she felt confident that Tyler wouldn't divulge her identity as the mystery woman at the Shoreline Mall, what would he be able to do to protect her if someone else discovered the truth about her? She accepted the fact that keeping her role in the incident a secret protected Tyler now, almost as much as it protected her.

~~~

"Clement got called away on some personal emergency," Claire explained. "Something to do with one of his grandkids having an accident. It's not supposed to be serious, but he is apparently the authorized adult closest to the school, so they contacted him to come and pick the child up. He's rescheduled my interview for tomorrow afternoon and asked me to stay here until afterward. Sorry."

Tyler saw the sincerity in Claire's expression on his computer screen.

"Claire, it's not a problem at all," he reassured her. "Nothing is going on here right now that requires your presence. I'm just working on the subpoena that Alfaro requested and Dennis is out following up on a few leads."

"Well, that's good," Claire said. "I can find a spot here to continue my own work on the shooter and the jewelry, so I won't fall behind on any leads where that aspect of the investigation is concerned. Oh, crap! Tyler, can you look on my desk and see if I left an enhanced enlargement of the earring on it? The image from the video can't be enlarged enough on my computer to make out the detail, so I had the image data extrapolated to increase the resolution."

"Sure, hang on."

Claire watched Tyler's image as he rolled his chair over to her desk, searched through the items on it until he found the photo, and then rolled back to his desk. He held it up in front of his computer so the camera would capture it.

"Is this it?" he asked.

"Yes, it is," Claire confirmed. "Can you scan it at the highest resolution possible and e-mail it to me? Hopefully, it will retain enough detail that way for me to use it for identifying where the earrings might have come from."

"Consider it done," Tyler assured her. "Is there anything else that you need?"

"I don't think so, and I will try not to disturb you any further so that you can finish the subpoena."

"Not a problem," said Tyler. "This is pretty boilerplate stuff that Alfaro could have had any first-year paralegal handle. Good luck with your interview. We will hate to lose you on the team, but it sounds like a great career opportunity for you. Dennis and I are behind you one hundred percent."

"Thanks, partner. I'll keep you guys posted."

Tyler simply smiled and nodded farewell as Claire ended their video call. He walked over to the multi-function copier which they all used for scanning, found Claire's name in the address book, and made the necessary adjustments to the settings to increase the resolution to the highest level. He placed the photo face down on the glass, closed the cover, and pressed the 'start' button. Once the display on the front panel indicated a successful transmission, he took the photo back to Claire's desk. He was just about to replace it where he had found it when he took the time to examine it himself.

The image of the earring on the mystery woman's right ear filled almost the entire five-by-seven photo. Tyler had to ponder for a few minutes the reason that the earring looked so familiar to him. His first belief was that he had studied the still images from the video of the woman so many times, both alone as well as with his two partners, but he then realized that it was the previously undetectable details in this photo that had given him the sense of familiarity. He had seen these earrings on someone other than the mystery woman.

Taking the photo back to his desk, Tyler found the folder on his computer where he had downloaded the pictures from that Saturday night which Katie had sent to his cell phone yesterday. It only took him a few attempts before he found the picture he was looking for. It was the one with Katie and Cile standing on either side of him at the dance club.

Cile was on his left, standing on her tiptoes as she planted a kiss on his cheek. Her hair was pulled behind her left ear, and the starfish earring was clearly visible. He zoomed in as much as he could on the image to still maintain clarity. It was exactly like the earring visible in the right ear of the mystery woman.

He sat for several minutes, simply gazing at the enlarged picture on his computer screen and considering what this revelation meant, and what to do with it. His first thought was that he should ask Katie if she knew where Cile had gotten the earrings from, but the memory of what had happened with the clerk from the jewelry store was still too vivid for him to ignore the potential risk for Katie if her further involvement came to the attention of whoever was trying to shut down the investigation.

After spending more than an hour considering his options, Tyler scrolled through the contacts on his cell phone until he found the latest addition.

"Hello Tyler," answered the female voice on the receiving end of his call.

"Good afternoon, Cile. How did you know it was me?"

"Oh, Tyler darling, all the men who steal my heart get a special designation in my contact list, with their very own ringtone so I know when it's them calling me."

Tyler chuckled and asked, "Okay, and how many men have stolen sweet Cile's heart so that she has to assign them this special designation?"

"So far, only one."

"Dare I ask what ringtone you have assigned to me?" he asked.

He heard her snort before replying, "Just an obscure little song from the last decade that you probably never heard."

"Try me," he said.

"It's called, 'I've got a Girl Crush'."

"I'll have to look it up, but regardless, I'm more honored than I can express in words. I hope you know that the feeling is as mutual as it can be. I will tell you that I have been delving into the anti-polygamy laws in this country and trying to find a loophole that I could exploit in order to be with both you and Katie."

Cile laughed and said, "Sure you have, Cutie. Even if I believed you, Katie and I don't share our boy toys."

Tyler laughed in return. He enjoyed bantering with Cile almost as much as he did with Katie.

"Here's an idea for you. Why don't you hold back certification for one of those genetic research labs you inspect until they agree to produce a clone of me that you could have for your very own?"

"Don't think I haven't considered it, but I realized that no matter how many times they made a clone, if it was a duplicate of you, it would only have eyes for Katie. I'm resigned to having to love you vicariously through her."

"And me for you, Cile. Are you going to be in Texas for the Labor Day weekend so I get a chance to see you then?"

"Oh yeah! I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It?" asked Tyler. "Is there something planned that I am unaware of?"

Cile giggled conspiratorially and said, "You meeting Katie's father is 'it'. Although, Katie has a lot of confidence in you holding your own. That would be a first, so we all want to see 'it'."

"I'll try not to be a disappointment to anyone. Can I ask you a question on an unrelated matter?"

"As I told you before, Tyler, you can ask any questions you'd like. But remember, I will only answer those that I feel are appropriate questions."

"I would expect nothing less," he said. "Do you remember the earrings that you wore when we went out a couple of Saturdays back?"

Cile thought about the motivation for the question before considering her answer. Tyler assumed she was searching her memory, so he added, "They were silver, shaped like little starfish, and had what appears to be a black pearl in the center of each."

"Oh, those old things. Yes, I remember."

"Okay, good. Now Cile, this is very important; you don't want to let anyone know that you and I discussed those earrings. Another pair that looks just like them may have some significance to a case we are investigating."

"I'm not sure I understand," Cile said. "Why would anyone care about my earrings looking like some other pair? Lots of earrings look alike."

Tyler didn't want to frighten her, but he needed to make sure that Cile understood the risks.

"Someone is trying to derail our investigation and they have demonstrated that they are not reluctant to make people with information that might help us, disappear. I need some information from you about your earrings, and I'll protect your identity as a source of that information, so you need to do the same."

"Crap, crap, crap," thought Cile. She had never considered her choice of earrings based upon what Katie might have been wearing that day at the mall, and Katie apparently hadn't considered Cile's choice of earrings that Saturday either. She was going to have to be careful here.

When Cile didn't respond, Tyler continued, "Cile, can you tell me where you got the starfish earrings from?"

Cile could answer that question honestly, "They were a gift."

"This might be one of those questions that you think is inappropriate, but I need to know for the investigation. Can you tell me who gave you the starfish earrings?"

"I can, but I won't," she replied.

Tyler wasn't surprised that Cile had refused to answer. He persisted nonetheless. "Can you tell me where the person who gave you the starfish earrings bought them?"

"I never asked," she said.

"Would you feel comfortable asking the person who gave you the earrings where they purchased them?"

"Tyler, I understand your interest and your desire to know about the origin of the earrings. However, I cannot see any circumstances under which I would find it appropriate to seek the information for you. You see, the gift was from a married man, one who is very highly placed in our government. He has been, is, and I hope he continues to be a very generous benefactor where his gifts to me are concerned. I think you can understand, not only how awkward it would be for me to ask him, but also his likely reluctance to tell me if I did ask."

"Listen," Tyler said, "let's give it some thought together over the next few days and see if we can come up with some plausible reason why you asking him might not seem as inappropriate as you think. Maybe something like you met someone who saw the earrings and wants to get a similar pair for their wife?"

"Well, it's not like I see him every day or anything," Cile said. "I'll think about how to word the request so that it might be viewed as a harmless inquiry, but I'll need to be very careful."

"I don't suppose the earrings were given to you in a box or anything that would tell us where they were purchased without having to ask the man who gave them to you?"

Cile almost laughed at the scenario that she must be building in Tyler's mind, but she continued anyway, "No, Tyler. He gave them to me after a birthday dinner for me one night, removing the studs I had in my ears and replacing them with the starfish earrings himself before kissing me goodnight in the hotel where we were staying."

"I see. You must mean a lot to him."

"We mean a lot to each other," Cile confirmed. "Which is why I would never want to do anything to jeopardize our relationship."

"I understand, but give it some thought. I could really use the information. But remember not to share our discussion on the earrings with anyone."

"I'll remember. Have you heard from Katie?"

Tyler welcomed the change in subject, "We spoke a few hours ago, right after she started back. It looks like she'll be here a day earlier than she had originally anticipated, but I'll know more when she calls me tonight."

"So, she did buy the SSR?" Cile asked.

"Yes, she did, and she says that she loves it. She sounds like a kid on Christmas morning."

Cile almost blurted out, "You should have seen her when she bought the Corvette", but she caught herself. Instead, she said, "That's how she sounds when she talks about you."

Tyler laughed and said, "I wonder if people would describe the way I sound when I talk about Katie the same way?"

"I wouldn't be at all surprised," Cile laughed. "Merry Christmas to both of you."

Chapter Eleven

Before Tyler could shut down his computer, it displayed a notification requesting a video chat. He checked the request and saw that it was from the Attorney General himself, so he sat back in his chair and accepted the request.

As soon as Alfaro's face filled the screen, it spoke, "I reviewed the administrative subpoena duces tecum you prepared, and it will do fine. I want you to serve it personally on this Blackwater Holdings as soon as possible. Check flights and let me know when you can get there."

Tyler wasn't totally surprised, but it was out of character for Alfaro to spend money sending one of his own agents on an out of state trip rather than using a local resource or a contractor to serve a simple subpoena.

"I'll look into flights immediately, but there won't likely be anything until tomorrow morning at the earliest."

"That's acceptable," said Alfaro, "but plan on staying until they have complied with the requirements of the subpoena."

"Sir, this isn't a warrant. They don't have to immediately comply with the demands..."

"You don't have to explain the law to me," Alfaro growled. "Use some common sense and initiative for crying out loud. Most people don't know the difference between a warrant and a subpoena, so if you demand the information when serving it, the odds are that they will comply. Make it happen."

Tyler wanted to say that someone should explain the law to the Attorney General, but he held his tongue. Courts had ruled multiple times that the judicial validity and enforceability of a subpoena was negated when it was executed in a manner reminiscent of a warrant. Once again, Alfaro was leaving a member of his staff out on a limb from a legal perspective, but now was not the time to argue the point.

"I'll do my best, sir."

"Good," Alfaro said. "Is there anything new to report?"

Tyler didn't consider for an instant telling Alfaro anything about the earrings. Instead, he said, "We're backtracking some to see what we can learn about the gunman who was shot in case there's any possible connection between him and the mystery woman..."

"Stop calling her a mystery woman and call her the suspect. That's what she is," Alfaro growled again.

"Of course, sir."

"What are you considering relative to the suspect and the gunman being somehow connected?" Alfaro asked in a much calmer tone of voice.

"Among other things, we're now curious if the suspect somehow was aware of the gunman's plans beforehand, and if so, how did she know," Tyler explained.

"Sounds reasonable," agreed Alfaro. "Eliminating the randomness of her actions would also prove premeditation. I could sell that to a Grand Jury if you find anything. Stevens is working on that, I hope. I need you to stay focused on this Blackwater outfit. Finding the owner of that car will be our best and quickest chance to identify the suspect. Once we have her, the other pieces will typically fall into place."

"Yes sir," Tyler said. "While the vehicle registered to this Blackwater Holdings is our best lead so far, we haven't placed all of our eggs into that one basket. We are expanding our search farther east, checking registrations in each state as we go. It would be helpful if we could ask the FBI for some assistance. Have you given our ideas on that any further consideration?"

"Yes, and the answer is still 'no'," Alfaro said. "If you run into any hurdles with other jurisdictions, let me know. If I can't overcome them for you, I'll see what Lange or Munoz can do for us through their contacts in DC."

"Understood. Is there anything else, sir?"

"Just send me your itinerary when you have it," Alfaro said, seconds before terminating the call on his end.

With Taylor out of town and Katie probably still driving, Tyler decided to stay in the office and start researching his travel options to Boise rather than doing it from Katie's condo. He would make the arrangements and send the details to Alfaro, and then stop and pick up something for dinner on the way back to the condo.

As a state employee, he was required to utilize the state's official travel website. This was supposed to ensure that the state received the best rates for all travel expenses. More important to the politicians, however, was that it allowed for restrictions for travel to locations that they wanted to be boycotted for one political reason or another.

He entered Wednesday morning as his preferred departure date and Friday morning for the return. He couldn't anticipate any justification for extending the trip over the weekend and seriously doubted that serving the subpoena and getting a response would take more than a few hours. If he could change to an earlier return flight, the state would make up the penalties for the reservation change by saving on the hotel room charges that he would avoid by leaving a day or two early.

Tyler knew that Katie would be just as disappointed in him being out of town when she returned as he would be, so the best he could do is to try and get back as quickly as possible. Their new relationship needed and deserved the two of them to spend enough time together to explore and learn as a couple.

While Katie had been clear on her desire for them to proceed with the development of their physical relationship as soon as possible, he knew that she understood and supported the larger and more comprehensive need that they both had to simply share their lives; to build the memories that they both wanted.

Once the website had confirmed the arrangements that he had made and provided the confirmation numbers, Tyler saved a copy of the itinerary and attached it in an e-mail to Alfaro and printed out a copy to leave for Katie, as she had done for him with hers. He would review it with her when they spoke later, but this copy would be hers to refer to while he was gone.

Checking the time, Tyler debated whether to pick something up for dinner on the way back to the condo or to stop and eat somewhere. A quick online check of the baseball schedules convinced him to stop and eat someplace where the Angels or Dodgers games might be televised tonight. He knew that Katie didn't have a television in her condo, and the one in his and his sister's condo only showed the channels that were part of Taylor's subscription, and that didn't include any sports.

Leaving the office and heading towards his car, Tyler remembered that he still hadn't spoken to his parents about the plans for Saturday. He would call his father while driving to a sports bar he was familiar with and be prepared to update Katie when she called him later.

~~~

"You're sure that Tyler won't find your set while he's staying in your condo?" Cile asked.

The screen on her cell phone didn't have a chance to fade after her call with Tyler before she had dialed Katie's number to inform her of his inquiry into the starfish earrings. The call had gone to voicemail, but Katie had called back just as soon as she had a cellular signal and she had heard the urgency in her cousin's plea for a return call.

"I'm positive," Katie reassured her cousin. "I always keep my jewelry locked in the safe in my closet, especially when I go out of town. What I'm not as certain of is if there are any pictures in the boxes in the garage that might show me wearing them. You don't remember seeing any when we were sorting through the pictures last week, do you?"

Cile thought for a minute, and said, "No, but we talked about the absence of pictures of you with your hair long, so since you cut your hair at the same time that you stopped wearing the starfish earrings, it doesn't sound like there could be any of you with them on."

"That's right," Katie agreed. "I sanitized the pictures that night with the Marshals. There should be no pictures of me in the garage from after I turned twelve until earlier this summer. I'll need to make sure that my parents do the same at the house before Tyler and I arrive."

"I'll get Mom to help me and your mom scour the house this weekend," Cile offered. "It needs to be done right so that there aren't just cutout holes in family photos where your face used to be."

Katie laughed, and Cile joined her. "I can't believe that I didn't remember to warn you about wearing those starfish earrings," Katie lamented. "I'm sorry."

"The earrings are only part of the problem," Cile said. "He either hadn't noticed or chose to ignore the fact that I was also wearing the diamond necklace that you gave me. The one that you purchased that day at the mall. They have to have pictures of that from Tiffany's"

"Maybe the necklace isn't as visible in the picture of you that he saw the earrings in," Katie surmised.

"That's possible," Cile agreed. "If it was a shot that showed my ear, then the necklace would have been harder to see from that angle. I'm locking that necklace away for the time being just to be on the safe side and avoid any more mistakes."

"Should I mention to Tyler that you and I have talked after your conversation with him?" Katie asked.

"Wait to see if he brings it up first," Cile said, then she started laughing.

Katie waited for her cousin to calm down before asking, "What do you find so funny?"

Cile had to control her urge to laugh again as she tried to explain to Katie, "If Tyler implies that your cousin is a homewrecking slut, play along." Cile then described how she laid the subterfuge on Tyler concerning her relationship with a married man.

This time, it was Katie who had to calm down her laughter before they could continue their conversation.

She said, "Well, you didn't lie. My dad is married, and he did give the earrings to you as a birthday present during our vacation to Mo'orea."

"Maybe I'll check to see if Jean-Jean is still working on Mo'orea," Cile said. "If he isn't there anymore, then telling Tyler where the earrings were obtained wouldn't lead him anywhere. Jean-Jean made our matching sets for your dad, so there won't be anyone else who could provide any information on them."

"Better yet," Katie said. "Wait a few days and then tell Tyler that your married friend bought the earrings from an artisan selling custom jewelry at the Municipal Market in Papeete. It would be better for his inquiry to stop at a dead-end than to remain stalled with you."

"Our challenge now will be how much of the conversation with Tyler do we need to share with Joey or my dad."

"Oh geez, Joey can be overzealous. If you have to tell him anything about your conversation with Tyler in order to get him to assist with determining the status of Jean-Jean, make certain that he understands that Tyler is hands off. If my boyfriend disappears, Joey will get to judge my marksmanship skills personally. You can tell him I said so."

Katie chuckled to herself when she remembered one of the biggest obstacles her supporters had faced to safeguard her identity was getting the Civilian Marksmanship Program to remove any record of her competitions from their score tracking website. Even though she had always competed using just her first and middle names, Kathryn Frances, they surmised that some investigator would assume that anyone who could place three automatic pistol rounds in a man's groin from that distance might have won some marksmanship competitions, which in turn might lead them to her. While she would effectively be forfeiting her numerous championships, the CMP was resistant to altering their records. Rockie had made the alterations without their permission, but since no one ever complained about moving up in the standings, the CMP didn't make any further issue of it.

Cile laughed again and said, "That should work. He certainly knows who the better shot is between the two of you, and you have the trophies to remind him."

"Which reminds me," said Katie. "While you and our moms are scouring the pictures in the house, grab any of my shooting trophies and hide those away as well. Most of those should be in my bedroom, where I intend to spend a lot of time with Tyler while we are there."

"My cousin is a wanton floozy!"

"Maybe, but your cousin is in love, so deal with it," Katie giggled.

"I think I'll discuss yours and Tyler's sleeping arrangements with our moms while I'm at the house," Cile teased.

"Go ahead," countered Katie. "If I don't like them, I'll book us into the most romantic suite on the Riverwalk. My lust will not be denied!"

Cile laughed again and continued to tease Katie, "What if all you get is a Vienna Sausage? Where will your lust be then? You haven't seen the merchandise yet, remember?"

Katie countered, "Unlike my cousin, I am not a size-queen. Plus, I may not have seen the merchandise, but I have felt it against me, and it will be more than adequate for the purposes I have in mind."

"If you say so," said Cile, remembering her own experiences with Tyler's body against hers and agreeing that his merchandise was indeed, more than adequate. "But I was thinking that you and Tyler might do better in the basement of the house so that you wouldn't be physically or verbally constrained if you know what I mean."

"The safe rooms?" Katie said. "I like the way you think. You're forgiven."

"Plus," said Cile in the conspiratorial tone that Katie had always treasured from her cousin, "Don't tell a soul that I told you because it's supposed to be a surprise."

"Tell me what?"

"JR and Rockie are flying in for the Labor Day weekend so that they can meet your new boyfriend, and they're bringing Jimmy and Jamie, so your room may be needed for them."

"JR's coming!" Katie exclaimed. "I knew he would make it, but I didn't think he'd bring everyone with him for such a short trip."

"Rockie wanted to meet Tyler too, so that meant that they had to bring Jimmy and Jamie as well," Cile explained.

James Robert Brandt III and Jamison Rochelle Brandt were Katie's six-year-old paternal twin nephew and niece. While she tried to stay as current with their lives as possible, their parents' travel around the world for JR's job with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, or DARPA meant that she seldom got an opportunity to spend any time with them.

"Okay, now I need to call my mom to give her an update," Katie said. "I'm almost to Liberal, Kansas, which leaves me a little over three hours from Tucumcari. I should call her before it gets any later or she'll have my dad listening in on our conversation."

"Good point," Cile said. "Let me know how your conversation with Tyler goes tonight in case anything is said that might alter our strategy at this point relative to the earrings."

"Will do. Love you Cile."

"Love you too Katie."

~~~

"Hi, Mom. I assume that since Dad's cell phone is going directly to voicemail that he's in a meeting or something."

"Hi, Sweetie. No, he's right here. He probably left his phone on 'do not disturb' again. Hold on and I'll put you on speaker."

Tyler heard his mother repositioning her cell phone before the background noise increased as the speaker became active.

"Sorry, son," his father said. "I was participating in an online seminar earlier and as your mom said, I forgot to switch off the do not disturb feature on my phone."

With his trust fund, and then eventual control over two wealthy families' fortunes, Tyler's father had never needed to work. However, he held an MBA from Vanderbilt University and was both a licensed real estate broker and a certified public accountant. Both of these professions required continuing education credits to maintain the state licenses, so his father spent several hours each month attending seminars or taking online classes.

It's not a problem," Tyler assured them. "I wanted to talk to both of you, so it really doesn't matter which or your cell phones does the trick. Are you still planning to pick up Taylor from the airport on Saturday and then drive her home so you can see the condo?"

"That is still the plan as far as we know," his father said. "Have you heard anything from Taylor that might require a change in those plans?"

"No, everything with her schedule is still the same as far as I know," Tyler said. "The reason I'm asking is because I want you both to meet someone while you're here. She wants to take us all to dinner so everyone has an opportunity to get to know one another. I was thinking that you might want to consider spending the night with Taylor and then driving back home on Sunday morning."

"Since you mentioned that this someone is a 'she', are we to assume that she is someone special to you?" his mother asked.

Tyler chuckled and said, "That would be a very astute assumption, Mom."

His father chuckled as well and added, "And since you suggested that we spend the night with Taylor and not you and Taylor, are we to assume that you will be spending the night someplace else?"

"For a couple of old folks, you two are still pretty sharp," Tyler teased.

"We're still sharp enough to change our wills, young man," laughed his mother. "Keep that in mind when you feel like getting sassy. So, explain your plans to us so we can decide what to wear and whether to pack an overnight bag."

"Katie and I discussed it. That's her name, Katie Brandt. Anyway, if Taylor's schedule doesn't change, you all should make it to the condo from the airport between three and four on Saturday afternoon. Once we get Taylor settled and she shows you the condo, we can go over to Katie's condo for Margaritas before going to dinner. After dinner, you and Taylor can either go back to her condo or join Katie and me at her condo for coffee or more drinks."

"She must live in the same complex," his father said.

"Katie lives next door," Tyler explained. "She is actually the manager for the condo that Taylor and I are renting."

"While that is obviously convenient for you," said his mother, "doesn't it pose some potential risk of conflict of interest on her part? Should she be romantically involved with one of her tenants? Since you've alluded to spending the night with her, something is going on, even if it isn't romance."

"I'm not going to try to convince you of Katie's integrity or trustworthiness," Tyler told them. "I'll let you be the judge of that yourself once you meet her. As far as 'something going on', you're absolutely right. Katie and I are developing the most meaningful relationship that either of us has ever had, and we want to begin sharing more and more of our lives with each other. That includes sharing our parents. You'll meet her on Saturday, and I will go to Texas with her over the Labor Day weekend to meet her family."

"What do you know about her family?' asked his father.

"I don't know a great deal yet, other than they raised the most beautiful and amazing woman I have ever met. They have a lot of points in the plus column simply by virtue of Katie being who she is. I know that they are very private, apparently related to her father's former role with the government. I get the impression that he still has a great deal of high-level influence, likely due to consulting work he still does in some capacity."

"Was he a politician," his mother asked, "or merely some sort of civil servant?"

"Tell me his name and I'll have him checked out," said his father.

Tyler realized that he didn't know Katie's father's full name. He wouldn't have shared it with his parents regardless. He told them, "That would be inappropriate, rude and pointless. I'm not in love with Katie's father, I'm in love with her."

His parents were silent as they considered Tyler professing his love for this woman. Finally, his father spoke, "So, this Katie - is that her full name or is it short for something?"

"It's short for Kathryn," Tyler told them.

"And you say her last name is 'Brandt'? Does Katie have another occupation beyond managing the condo?"

"She is currently a student at UC Irvine," Tyler explained. "I'll let her describe her plans to you personally. I think we owe her that courtesy."

"Well," said his mother, "since we will certainly want to make the most of the opportunity to get to know Katie, count on us spending the night with Taylor. Try to find a place near the condo where we can take everyone for Sunday brunch, will you Tyler?"

"I think I'll let Taylor handle the brunch arrangements," Tyler said. "It will allow her to feel like more than just an observer."

"Excellent idea," said his father. "Also tell her to let us know if anything changes with her schedule."

Tyler said, "I'll do that. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I look forward to seeing you both on Saturday."

"Goodbye Son."

~~~

"I know that I have no right to be disappointed, especially after I left you on Monday to come and get the SSR, but I can't help it. I can't believe how much I miss you."

Tyler saw that the disappointment that Katie had expressed was very evident on her face. He also realized how disappointing her was something that he never wanted to do again.

"I hope you know how disappointed I am about this trip too," he told her. "I can only promise to make it as quick as possible. Like I explained, I scheduled my return for Friday, but I have every intention of trying to get back Wednesday night or Thursday morning."

"Why do you have to go, anyway?" Katie asked. She was in a different hotel room from the previous evening, but she had already assumed a similar position on the bed and under the sheet before initiating the video call with Tyler.

"The Attorney General is demanding that I go personally to serve the subpoena on this company."

"A subpoena for what?"

"It's related to that case I am working. You know, the shooting at the mall earlier this year," Tyler explained."

"The one that you asked me about the Corvette?"

"That's the one. In fact, the subpoena is related to that Corvette. This company has a Corvette registered that is an exact match to the one that the mystery woman was seen driving that day at the mall. We are requesting their records to try and identify who might have been driving the car."

Katie nodded but didn't reply. Tyler continued, "We're not certain that the Corvette registered to this company is the same one from the mall, but as you pointed out, there aren't that many of this particular year make and model, and this is the closest one we have found that matches, so it needs to be checked out."

"I don't understand why identifying the woman is so important," Katie said. "You told me that it is unlikely that she would ever be convicted of anything even if a grand jury indicted her. Why not just leave her alone?"

Tyler considered how best to explain his interests beyond those of the Attorney General.

"Alfaro wants to make a political point, using the woman as an example of vigilante justice by gun-toting citizens. He isn't concerned with justice for her or anyone else if it gets in the way of his personal agenda. Beyond that, I don't know. There's something about the woman that is pulling me towards her. There's an attraction that I can't explain, and it's not simply her appearance. Her presence is compelling to me in a way that I can't fathom. All I know is that I feel a need to meet her; to know her."

Katie stifled the gasp that was close to escaping from her mouth. Instead, she grinned and asked, "Should I be jealous?"

Tyler had a serious look on his face as he said, "I don't know. There are things that I see in you that are comparable to what I see in her, but you're my reality. In the video, there is a presence, a purpose with her that I haven't seen yet in you, but there is a presence in you that I have already seen that I didn't see in her. Does that make sense?"

"What would you do if you found out who she is? Would you arrest her?"

Tyler shook his head and said, "I have been thinking about that since the case was assigned to our team. I have been hoping that I would meet her alone, without anyone else from my team knowing about it. That would give me options that I wouldn't have otherwise. I would want to understand why she avoided being identified. She must have felt a need to remain hidden, and if the reason is something that I felt justified it, I could possibly find ethical reasons to support it. More than anything else, I would want to know who she is, where she learned to act as decisively and effectively as she did. I'd want to know why she glowed."

"Glowed?"

Tyler smiled at Katie's confused expression, "Didn't I mention that she has been referred to as the 'Shoreline Angel'? Besides the miracle that she provided to all the people that her actions saved, multiple witnesses claim that there was a glowing effect around her, like a full-body halo that they could see with their own eyes. She had a mandorla aureola."

"I thought those were myths," Katie said. "Something theologians and artists used to portray miracles and saints."

"Are you a saint? I know that having you in my life seems to be a miracle."

Katie looked befuddled, "You've lost me."

Tyler smiled, "I have seen a mandorla aureola around you several times. It's like this energy surrounds you and changes its color and intensity based upon your mood. I've never witnessed it before I met you, but like I said, quite a few people at the mall that day claim to have seen something similar around this woman."

Katie sat stunned for several seconds. What was going on between her and Tyler? She knew that she wasn't imagining the connection that she felt with him that somehow allowed her to literally see inside his head at times, and for him to almost know her feelings before she knew them herself. This was almost scary exciting.

She asked, "Do you see it now?"

"No, it doesn't appear to be captured in photos or video. I checked."

"How did you check?"

"Those pictures that you send me from that Saturday night," Tyler said. "I remember the glow around you all night long, changing only in intensity from time to time. It wasn't visible in any of the pictures. Plus, the video that we have of the woman in the mall doesn't show any glow around her at the same time witnesses claimed to have seen it."

Katie snorted and said, "Well, my parents will be the first to assure you that I am neither an angel or a saint, and almost anyone who knows me would support them in that belief. But, since you're the only person who has ever claimed to see a glow around me, there is a likely explanation for it."

Laughing, Tyler asked, "What might that be?"

"It's simple. I have so much love for you that my body can't contain it all and it leaks out of me when you're around, causing this glow you claim to see. All you're seeing is this girl in love with her guy."

"I don't know," Tyler said, shaking his head. "If it was caused by an overabundance of love, you would be implying that you love me more than I love you, which simply isn't possible..."

"How about if we have the same amount of love for each other, but you have a body big enough to hold all yours, while the same amount of love leaks out of my smaller body?"

"Oh, you're good," Tyler said with a smile. "Now explain why the witnesses claim to have seen a similar glow around the woman in the mall. Was she in love with people that she didn't even know?"

"You're the investigator," Katie chided. "That's for you to investigate."

"Fine, but if you have any more of your innovative theories about glowing women, please share them with me."

"Count on it, Cutie. So, your parents are going to spend the night on Saturday?"

Tyler had started their conversation by updating Katie on the plans that he had discussed with his parents for them to meet Katie when they dropped off Taylor and toured the condo. He wanted to start with something more positive for Katie than him having to leave town the same day that she was expecting to be home.

"As long as you don't mind having me as a house guest so that they can sleep in my room," Tyler teased.

"Tyler, I don't glow for anyone who I wouldn't want to share my bed. In fact, you need to see how much my love radiates for you after I get a chance to 'not sleep', sleep with you."

"My love, you already outshine the moon."

~~~

"Eddie, I think someone is at the front door," whispered Sandra Davis. She was sitting up in bed, reading an e-book while her husband was just preparing for bed after visiting the bathroom.

Edward Davis walked over to the bedroom window, pulled the curtain aside slightly and looked out towards the street in front of their house. Although their house in Pacific Palisades was set back almost fifty yards from the street, there was still a clear view of it from the upstairs windows.

"There are a couple of strange vehicles at the entrance to our driveway. I don't see any people around them though," he told his wife. "I'll call the security patrol and have them investigate."

Before he could retrieve his cell phone, the doorbell to the house rang. He pushed the bedside control for the intercom and said, "Yes, may I help you?"

Edward Davis and his wife listened as an authoritative female voice said, "Mr. Edward Davis?"

"Yes, this is Edward Davis. May I help you?"

"Mr. Davis, we're with the United States Secret Service. May we have a word with you and your wife?"

The husband and wife stared open-mouthed at each other. He finally responded, "Of course. Give us a few minutes and we'll be right down."

While he still had the sweat pants and t-shirt on from his earlier exercise, Edward knew that his wife had already prepared for bed, so he walked to her closet and returned with a terrycloth bathrobe for her. He helped her on with the robe as she stood, then took her hand and they walked downstairs together. As he walked towards the foyer and the front door beyond, Sandra Davis diverted off into the living room, turning on table lamps as she entered.

Opening the front door a few inches, Edward saw that the two men and one woman on his front porch were each holding up their badges and credentials for him to examine. Satisfied that they were genuine, he stood aside and opened the door to allow them entry.

"My wife is waiting for us in the living room," he told his guests as he closed the door. "Please follow me."

No words were spoken as the three agents allowed Edward Davis to lead them into his house. He took a seat next to his wife and said, "Please sit. Make yourselves at home."

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Davis," said the lone female agent. "We don't plan on being here very long."

"May we ask what this is about?" Sandra Davis asked.

The female agent spoke again, "Ma'am, my name is Special Agent Joseph, and these are agents Mayer and Young. We're here investigating an inquiry on a particular individual that originated from an internet-connected device tracked to this address. Are you and Mr. Davis the only current occupants of the house?"

"Yes, we live here alone currently," Sandra said. "I don't understand, though. You say some inquiry originated from our house?"

Edward spoke, "The Secret Service provides protection for the President. Are you implying that someone at this address performed a search, inquiry, whatever you want to call it, on a member of the first family?"

The agents didn't answer. Joseph nodded and her two partners walked out of the living room and separated.

"What are they doing?" Edward asked.

As she took a seat in a chair across from the couple, Agent Joseph said, "They're just going to verify that the house has no other occupants. Do either of you recognize the name, Kathryn Brandt?"

Sandra Davis gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. Her husband took her other hand in his and said, "We know the name, but we've never met her. What has she done to warrant the Secret Service showing up at our house in the dead of night?"

"If you haven't met her, may I ask how you learned of her name?"

"She lives next door to our son and daughter in Irvine," said Edward. "She manages the condominium that we are renting for them while our daughter is in college. Is she dangerous?"

Agent Joseph noticed her two partners return and shake their heads. She focused once more on the couple across from her, "May I have the address for your son and daughter?"

Edward stood and said, "If you let me get my cell phone from upstairs, I can look the address up for you."

When the agents didn't object, he moved quickly to retrieve his cell phone from next to his bed. He returned within a few minutes and read the address off as Agent Joseph made a note of it on her cell phone.

Waiting for Mr. Davis to rejoin his wife, Agent Joseph asked the couple, "What prompted either of you to search the internet for information on Kathryn Brandt this evening?"

Sandra looked curiously at Edward, who answered, "I frequently search the internet while I am on my treadmill upstairs. Our son has invited us to meet this Katie, as he calls her this weekend. I was simply doing a little background research trying to learn something about her in preparation for our meeting.

"Did you learn anything?"

"Not a thing, which now that I think of it, is probably why the Secret Service is interested in her. How can a person in this day and age be as invisible on the internet as this Kathryn Brandt is? No social media presence, no personal data, no pictures. It is very suspicious if you ask me."

"Yes, well, we'll look into that," Agent Joseph said as she rose to her feet. "Is there anything further that you can tell us about Kathryn Brandt?"

Sandra chimed in, "Our son said that she is a full-time student. As my husband said, she manages the condo that we are renting for our son and daughter, but it is owned by some trust. What was the name of the trust again, Eddie?"

"The Corvair Family Trust."

The three agents shared looks among themselves and then Joseph said, "Very well. Thank you for your time and cooperation. We'll show ourselves out."

Without waiting for a response, Agent Joseph walked out of the living room, followed by the two male agents. The three had exited the front door and closed it before either Edward or Sandra could catch up with them.

"Eddie, what was that all about?"

Edward locked the front door and was leading his wife back to their bedroom as he answered her question, "I don't know, but I'm going to have my lawyers do a more thorough background check than I could do online. Kathryn Brandt, or whatever her name is, will be an open book to us by Saturday, I promise you that."

~~~

"It's only around twelve or thirteen hours," Katie explained. I'll be able to get a much earlier start in the morning, so I can definitely make it home in time to be in our bed when we chat tomorrow night."

"I have a seven AM flight, but I'll call you before take-off. I went over to the other condo and packed already, so I wouldn't have to do it in the morning."

"Was my boyfriend kind enough to leave his dirty laundry in my hamper so I can wash it for him?"

"Your boyfriend doesn't produce that much dirty laundry in only two days," Tyler assured her. "I promise that we can really do our laundry together this weekend. By the way, do you have a bathing suit?"

"I think I could find something. Why?"

Tyler grinned, "Well, besides the lustful desires of the typical male to see a beautiful woman in her bathing suit, I also thought that my girlfriend might like to drive me to the beach in her new truck on Sunday. Top down, of course."

Katie laughed and said, "Top down on the truck or my bathing suit?"

Tyler waved a finger at her and said, "Truck top only in public. Bathing suit top when in private."

Before Katie could respond, she heard a notification from her phone. Checking the display, she told Tyler, "Hang on a second..."

Tyler saw his screen go blank as Katie switched calls. He waited patiently for several minutes until Katie returned to their call.

"Tyler, your parent's names are Edward and Sandra, correct? They were just paid a visit by the Secret Service."

"What?"

"Don't worry, everything's fine," Katie told him. "I explained who they were and I think I got everyone calmed down."

"You explained what to who, and why would anyone need to calm down?"

"You invited your parents to meet me on Saturday, and that apparently prompted one or both of them to try checking me out online. I told you that my father is very protective of me and the rest of his family, and I warned you not to try to find out anything about me on your own. Do you remember?"

"Yes, but the Secret Service? Who in the hell is your dad?"

"I'll let him explain it when you meet him," Katie said. "The point here is that your parents hit a tripwire in their search that prompted someone to ascertain the source of the inquiry and make a risk assessment. The Secret Service had the most qualified personnel closest to the location, so they got the call to check it out. After verifying your parent's account of things, they just wanted to confirm with me that I knew these people and that I was safe."

"I'll call my parents in the morning and try to explain things to them. I can only imagine what they must be thinking."

"Please apologize to them for me," Katie said, "and advise them to ask either you or me if they want to know anything about me or my family."

"I'll do that. We'd better get some sleep if we're both going to make the early starts we have planned for the morning. Have you wound down enough to sleep?"

"I think so. You get lots of rest yourself because I don't see you getting much this weekend," Katie said with a wink.

"Sweet dreams, Katie. I love you."

"I love you too, Cutie. Sweet dreams."

Tyler watched the screen on his cell phone go blank before plugging it into the charger and setting on the nightstand beside Katie's bed. He repositioned the pillows and settled down under the sheet, breathing in the scent of her and welcoming the arousal that resulted.

As he relaxed and prepared to sleep, a thought came to mind; He wondered if the mystery woman had a father as protective of his daughter as Katie's father was of her.

Chapter Twelve

Katie had to use her cell phone to activate the garage door opener from the SSR since she hadn't brought her extra remote on the trip. She'd get it out of the kitchen and put it in the truck in the morning. Right now, she just wanted to get in the condo and ready for bed so that she could place the promised call to Tyler.

Watching the garage door raise, she smiled at the position of her other truck. Tyler had kept his promise and moved it to the far side of the garage, just as she had requested. The fact that it was parked head-in rather than backed in didn't bother her. She would need to move it out of the garage tomorrow anyway to get to the boxes of pictures that she wanted, so she could position it more to her liking when she was done.

With Tyler flying to Idaho today, they hadn't had much time to communicate as she drove. This left her with plenty of time to think about things on the way home, and 'home' now seemed a more appropriate description of the condo to her than at any time in the past.

As far back as she could remember, one or the other of the two condos had always been temporary housing for her or another family member. While she was a child, her family had spent several extended periods in whichever condo wasn't being rented at the time as they visited her grandparents or simply vacationed in Southern California. Later, JR and now her had lived in one of the condos while attending school. The condos were comfortable and convenient, but she had never felt any motivation to invest much time or energy into decorating. She planned to remedy that before the weekend.

After parking the SSR, closing the garage and walking into her kitchen, Katie surveyed the itinerary that Tyler had left for her on the kitchen counter. As they had discussed, it showed that in the worst case, he would be home Friday evening in time for them to have dinner together.

She knew that Tyler had fed Sinbad before leaving this morning. It was slightly later than he would normally get his evening meal, so Katie wasn't surprised to see him sitting on top of the sand in the aquarium where he always received his food. She decided to treat her pet by dropping two crickets into his habitat, and then inspected the living room as the jerboa feasted on them.

It wasn't as if she had no personal items on display in the condo, it's just that they were almost entirely in either the upstairs room that she used as her office or in the two guest bedrooms. Since her only overnight guests were anticipated to be members of her family, she had tried to make rooms that they would be using more familiar to them with photos, paintings, and other items that would reflect her tastes. The items in those rooms could easily be shared on the walls and spaces in the downstairs areas of the condo. She also knew that there were a few select photos packed within the boxes that her and Cile had just gone through which she could safely display.

She opened the blinds to the sliding patio door and flipped the switch that illuminated the patio lights. Gazing out at the plants either hanging from the patio cover or sitting in pots on the ground, she debated about which, if any, she would want to relocate as indoor plants. Leaving the final decision for tomorrow, she turned off the lights, closed the blinds and went into her bedroom to get ready for bed. She looked forward to letting Tyler help her unwind enough to have a good, sound night of sleep. She just wished he was here to sleep with her.

While she brushed her teeth, Katie considered how much she wanted to continue teasing Tyler tonight. She knew that he enjoyed it, and knowing this gave her pleasure. The problem was, she realized, that she wasn't just teasing him; she was torturing herself at the same time. It would be different if they were together and they could act upon the arousal that resulted from their mutual teasing. Teasing while being apart only left her, and she assumed Tyler more frustrated.

"Okay," she thought as she climbed naked under the sheets. "I'll cool it for tonight. Although, I am home now, and I do have toys here if necessary."

Propping herself up against her headboard, using the same pillows that Tyler had used in her absence, Katie got her cell phone positioned and initiated the video call with Tyler.

"Hello Beautiful," Tyler said as he answered her request for a video call. "It appears that we have reversed roles tonight. What time did you get home?"

Katie studied the image on her phone and saw that Tyler was already in bed, scantily covered by the sheet as they had been doing on their previous video calls. Seeing him, she thought "my toys may come out to play tonight."

"Long enough ago to feel your absence," she said. "How is your trip going?"

"It's the exact waste of time that I knew it would be. I served the subpoena this afternoon and have a meeting scheduled tomorrow afternoon with this company's lawyers to review it. I think I will be here until Friday, but I should be back into Orange County by late afternoon. Have dinner with me?"

"Of course, I'll have dinner with you, but I won't commit to where dinner will be until I know when you're arriving. Is that okay?"

"Totally acceptable. You made good time today."

"Yeah, without you distracting me all day, I had nothing better to do than drive," she teased.

"Should I apologize for my previous acts of distraction?"

"God no, and not for your future distractions either. Tyler, you are becoming everything to me. Please don't ever apologize for being what you are to me."

"Ditto, Katie."

"Will this trip put you behind in the office and affect your ability to leave next Tuesday?"

"No, my partners will be back next week and can cover anything I need them to. What arrangements do you need me to make for hotels or anything during our trip?"

"I'm thinking that we should play things by ear as far as hotels are concerned," Katie said. "On one hand, we can share the driving, which should enable us to cover more distance each day."

"Is there another hand?" Tyler asked.

Giggling before answering, Katie said, "Yes there is. On the other hand, we may want to stop more frequently along the way, should the circumstances dictate."

"Circumstances?"

"What? You don't think I am capable of creating a circumstance where you might want to stop and deal with the situation?"

Laughing back at her, Tyler said, "I definitely believe that you could create the type of circumstance that you are implying, but why would we have to stop to deal with it? Surely someone who could create such a circumstance would be creative enough to think of ways to remedy said circumstance in a more spontaneous manner."

"Tyler," Katie gasped, "are you advocating the potential of one of us driving distracted?"

"Certainly not. The driver would be expected to keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road at all times. The passenger would not be similarly constrained, though."

"In that case, you're driving the whole way," Katie said. "Problem solved."

~~~

"This failure will be reflected in your next performance review."

Tyler sighed silently and replied, "Yes sir, I understand. Is there anything else?"

"Send me the judge's ruling that quashed the subpoena so I can review it in preparation for our appeal. Why haven't I received any updates from Stevens or Maxwell this week? You're the only member of your team even trying to communicate with me, and you're giving nothing but excuses."

"I can give you my resignation instead," Tyler wanted to tell Alfaro, but he resisted. Barely.

He had switched from practicing law to enforcing the law because as he had told Katie, he abhorred the corruption and abuse of power that he had seen from politicians and corporate types who truly thought of themselves as immune to the same rules that everyone else had to live by. He had never wanted to investigate run-of-the-mill crimes, and while sensational and dramatic from a publicity perspective, the Shoreline Mall case was still just a homicide. A homicide with a very intriguing woman involved that Tyler would love to meet, but still just a homicide.

"I wasn't aware that they hadn't communicated with you, sir," Tyler told his boss. "I haven't been in contact with either since Tuesday. If I hear from them, I'll be certain to let them know of your concerns."

Realizing that Alfaro had ended their call, it made Tyler smile to know that the Attorney General was so inept in knowing the status of people in his own agency. Michael Clement reported directly to Alfaro, and Tyler knew with certainty that Clement had approved Dennis' request for the remainder of this week off and that Clement was currently in San Bernardino with Claire, continuing the interview process with her.

Tyler knew all this because he had, of course, remained in contact with his partners over the last few days. Dennis was holed up in his apartment with Haley Simmons, getting "better acquainted", as he said that she had described it. She had wanted for them to travel to Hawaii for the Labor Day weekend, but since Tyler already had that time booked for his vacation with Katie, Dennis convinced Haley to spend time together in secret this week instead. While he hadn't spoken directly with Claire, she had been sending him texts and e-mails to keep him updated on her interviews.

Tyler's cell phone rang, and checking the display, he saw a 'blocked number' message. He took a chance and answered, "Oglethorpe-Davis."

"Agent Davis, this is Vern Martin with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Do you remember me?"

"Of course, Detective Martin. What can I do for you?"

"I think it's more what I can do for you. I have something that may be related to the Shoreline Mall shooting, but it also may not be. The evidence locker where the duffel bag and weapons belonging to the shooter were held before the feds took them hasn't been used since. You see, it's one of our larger evidence lockers and we don't get a lot of items in evidence that require a locker that large. Anyway, it needed to be used today, and when the evidence tech opened it, she found something that could only have fallen out of the gunman's duffel bag and no one had noticed it. It was never cataloged into the evidence list, so we're not entirely certain where it came from."

"What is it," Tyler asked.

"It's a micro SD card."

"Have you checked it out to see what is on it?"

"One of our techs tried, but it's encrypted," Vern explained. "Here, I'll text you a screenshot of what comes up when we insert the card into a computer. We might be able to crack it, but since it's no longer our case, we thought that your team should take possession of it and do what you wanted with it. You're the only member of your team answering your phone, so I guess you get it."

"I'm actually at the airport in Boise right now, but I'll be landing at John Wayne around four this afternoon."

The Orange County International Airport had been referred to as the "John Wayne Airport" for decades in honor of the actor and long-time resident of the county.

"Not a problem," Vern said. "How about I do this? The watch commander for the airport division will be getting out of a meeting here at headquarters shortly. I can give him the card and you can pick it up from him before you leave the airport. You should have the screenshot now. I'll text you his number so you can call him when you get there."

"That would be very helpful," Tyler said. "I really appreciate the courtesy."

"Always glad to help. Have a safe flight."

"Thanks, Detective."

Tyler checked his text messages, and there was one that had arrived from the number that had just called him. Opening the text, he selected the image in it and saw it open on the screen. It appeared to be a sketch or drawing in a rough shape of a heart, but Tyler couldn't be certain. There were words underneath it, which he did recognize as appearing to be Latin.

Since they were in an image, Tyler couldn't simply copy and paste them into a search field, so he had to type them out manually: "Et etiam habere cor meum sanguinem." The translation came back as "I too have a bleeding heart."

Tyler looked at the image once more, zooming in to enlarge it on his cell phone's display. While crude, the shape definitely could be considered a heart, and the small spots below it could he supposed, represent blood drops.

He would pick up the SD card from the watch commander at the airport, but he couldn't imagine what relevance it would have to either the gunman or the mystery woman.

Before going to the airport security office to declare his firearm, Tyler checked the status of his flight from Boise to Salt Lake City. It showed being on time, so he had an hour and five minutes before its scheduled departure. He would text Katie once he got checked in and at the gate to discuss her plans for this evening.

What they did or didn't do were of no interest to Tyler, as long as they did or didn't do it together. He had never materially desired the presence of another person as much as he desired Katie's. He wasn't opposed to taking their physical relationship to the next level; something that Katie had made vibrantly clear as her desire, but his urgency to do so was dwarfed by his need to simply be with her. It was almost as if he drew life energy from Katie, and maybe that was true. He felt that she was his life now.

~~~

TYLER: I'm at the gate, waiting for my flight. Are you free to talk?

KATIE: Give me a minute and I'll call you.

TYLER: I'll be here, anxiously waiting to hear your voice.

Katie finished reviewing the digital bill of lading on her cell phone to verify the destination address and delivery details were correct before acknowledging it and sending it back to the truck driver.

Her Corvair truck had already been driven up the ramp and into the semi-trailer that would be used to transport it to Texas. She had considered her use of the Corvair now that she had the SSR. She would never sell this truck; it held too much sentimental value for her and her father.

The older truck would likely be relegated entirely to classic car shows or parades. After discussing her idea with her mom, rather than have it take up space in her garage, Katie's mom would pay to have it transported to the adult entertainment venue that she owned in San Antonio.

Katie had made the suggestion, being careful not to let her mom know that she was aware of her brother coming. His 1965 Corvair convertible had been on display at the club, providing a popular photo opportunity for customers who wanted to pay to have one of the dancers pose with them in the car, or leaning against it.

With his return, Katie knew that JR would want to use his car while in Texas, so her truck could be a stand-in during that time, and remain until the next time Katie wanted to show it someplace else.

Katie didn't wait for the driver to climb into the cab of the truck before retreating into her garage, closing the door, and entering her kitchen. There were a few more items that she wanted to place around the condo before Tyler's arrival, but she wanted to return his call first.

Tyler declining her request for a video call surprised Katie at first until she remembered that he was at the airport and he was probably reluctant to hold a video call in a public place. He did answer the audio call, however.

"Hello, Katie. Everything appears on time, so I should be landing on schedule. Did you decide on where you might like to have dinner with me?"

"Hi Cutie. Yes, I did. I am making you my mom's signature dish tonight, so we'll be eating here."

"That works for me," Tyler said. "Do you need me to pick up anything on the way from the airport?"

"You know what, let me check." Katie turned and surveyed the kitchen counter before opening the refrigerator.

"I think we're good for tonight," she told Tyler. "But one of us will need to pick up some more Grand Marnier and Triple Sec before your parents come over tomorrow. Do you want to do chips and salsa with the Margaritas for them?"

"I don't know. You are making the dinner arrangements, so you tell me; will chips and salsa before dinner be too filling?"

"We have reservations at the Newport Rib Company for six-thirty," Katie said. "I'll put some chips and salsa out and let them decide. The stuff won't go to waste because we can always take them with us for snacking on our road trip."

"It sounds like you have it all figured out," Tyler chuckled. "Have you spoken with Taylor?"

"We've texted a couple of times today," Katie said. "I think she is going to follow my recommendation for where to have brunch on Sunday, but she hasn't committed to it yet as far as I know."

"I'll send her a text before I take off to remind her," Tyler said. "The design conference she is attending should be wrapping up this afternoon, so it might slip her mind otherwise."

"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands," Katie said. "When you get here, I'll leave all of me in your capable hands. Tyler, I don't think I have ever been more excited about seeing someone as I am right now."

"I'm just as excited as you are, Sweetie. What I want to tell you may sound strange, so please wait until I'm done before saying anything..."

Katie heard more than a mere request in his tone, "Sure Tyler. Go ahead."

"This probably isn't the best place to have this conversation, but I want you to know some things before we see each other in a few hours. I love you, Katie. I can feel it - I can feel you, almost as if there is a physical presence to the love I hold in my heart for you."

Katie felt tears forming in her eyes, but she didn't interrupt Tyler.

"Now, this is the hard part to explain, so I'm just going to use the words that keep popping into my head to describe it; I feel emotionally constipated."

Katie blinked her eyes and said, "You feel what?"

"Please let me finish," Tyler said. "I feel that the love I hold for you hasn't been expressed because up until now, it has been physically confined. I want to release that love. I want my body to be able to express what it feels for you without reservation."

"Are you done?" Katie asked when Tyler didn't continue.

"Unless you have any questions or anything," he replied.

"Tyler, have I done or said anything to give you the impression that I would object to a more physical relationship with you? While the term, 'emotional constipation' sounds funny, I think it is an apt description for what we are both feeling. I love you so much, so soon that it has given me some pause. Every time I question it, all I have to do is remember the way you look at me, and then I am completely confident in everything about us."

Katie paused when she heard a loudspeaker making an announcement at the airport in the background. She wanted to make certain that Tyler could hear her words.

"My mom has tried on a few occasions to describe for me what her and my father experienced while they were separated. They both say that they could always sense the existence of the other out in the world, and because of that, they remained loyal and totally devoted to their shared love. I am beginning to understand what she meant, because Tyler, I physically sense your existence. I have almost from the first time I laid eyes on you. You are physically a part of me in ways that I can't explain, and I know that we can be even closer if we let ourselves."

"So, you do understand," Tyler said.

"I do," said Katie, "and I need you to understand something as well. While I will always strive to make my desire for you clear, you need to know that what I feel is so much stronger. My body craves yours, almost like an addict craves their fix. This might be a providential description because you are already becoming my addiction in so many ways. I don't know. Maybe once I have had the experience of a physical release for the love we feel for each other, the craving may subside, but I doubt it. You affect me in too many ways."

"I can think of worst things than having the woman that I crave, crave me in return."

"Speaking of the affects you have on me; I need to change my underwear after this conversation. They're soaked."

Tyler chuckled and said, "My computer bag isn't sitting on my lap out of concern for its security."

"Well, maybe we both should calm down some until you get home," said Katie. "Then, all bets are off."

"I'll try," said Tyler, "but my anticipation is only going to increase."

"Ditto, Cutie. More than anything else, I just need to hold you and be held by you. Anything else that happens is just a bonus."

"I agree. So, what is your mom's signature dish?"

"Changing subjects? Good idea. My mom's signature dish is her tuna casserole. I have it all ready for the oven and the timer set. If you want to delay dinner when you get here, I would have no problem with that. The oven will shut off and the casserole will finish cooking as the oven cools. Even if we wait until its cold, I can always reheat us some in the microwave."

There was another announcement made in the background and Katie heard enough to know that it was the boarding call for Tyler's flight. When it finished, Tyler spoke first, "I guess that I better text Taylor before boarding. Do you want me to call you from Salt Lake City?"

"Not unless there is a change to your flight or something. I'm going to spend the next few hours finishing up some chores around here, but please let me know when you land at John Wayne."

"I'll do that, and Katie, save your underwear for me."

"Oh, you bastard," she giggled.

~~~

"I've never had to deal with a wet spot before," Katie whispered, her head on Tyler's chest. "What's the protocol? I think the man should be the one to sleep on it. What do you think?"

Tyler's laughter made Katie's head bounce, which made her giggle.

"First of all, Sweetie, if you call that a 'spot', you have a very minimalistic perspective."

The wet area they were discussing was an oval easily eighteen inches wide and three feet long and was smack in the middle of the king-sized bed. They were laying together on one of the dry sides, as close as they could be to one another.

"Secondly, since the man was, and still is wearing a condom, he would have to be extremely chivalrous to agree to your suggested protocol. However, since helping you create said spot, and enjoying it immensely I might add, the man will be more than happy to help you change the sheets."

"I can't believe my body responded that way," Katie said. "I have known since our first kiss that you pushed buttons inside me that had never been pushed before, so I really shouldn't be surprised that making love to you pushed me to new heights and caused my body to react in ways it has never done before. I have heard stories from other women about a state of orgasmic bliss that can occur with the right man, but I always assumed it was just some legend; on a par with Unicorns. Now I have proof that your love for me makes you my Unicorn. You, my love, are a credit to your gender."

"Does that mean that I don't have to sleep on the wet spot?" Tyler asked with a chuckle.

"No, it means that you can help me change the sheets later. No point doing it now. Let me get a towel to cover the spot and we'll see how much we can expand its size after we eat some dinner. Are you hungry yet for food?"

"Maybe in a few minutes. Where do you keep a towel that you would want to use?"

"I'll get it," Katie said. "You can position the pillows while I do that."

Katie rolled her body over Tyler's to get out of the bed instead of traversing the wet area to get out on the other side. Surveying her bed, she was surprised to see how little of it was disturbed by their lovemaking. Other than the large wet spot in the middle of the bed, there didn't appear to be any signs that a couple had recently had sex on it.

Walking into the master bathroom, she reflected on her observation and realized that what she and Tyler had shared transcended 'sex' as she had known it. From the moment that he had walked into her kitchen this evening from her garage, few words had been spoken. Their eyes communicated their needs and their actions communicated their understanding of each other.

Katie had been prepared for Tyler's arrival by wearing a sundress, with nothing on beneath it. With only a smile and her eyes, she coaxed Tyler into removing her dress, and then she focused on undressing him as he smiled appreciatively at her naked body. She knew that his patience was being tested by the way that he looked at her with a hunger she hoped would always be there.

There had been no need for any preliminaries; neither expected or needed any foreplay. Their teasing and tempting video calls over the past week had satisfied that aspect, at least for the time being. Their naked bodies had melded together completely and effortlessly, delayed only for the seconds that it took Tyler to roll a condom onto his erection.

Katie had never achieved an orgasm through intercourse, so her first one erupting so quickly caught her by surprise. Her body had convulsed the instant that Tyler had entered her, with quivering contractions that tried to embrace the instrument of Tyler's love as it slowly sought its home. These were followed by a release that literally expelled Tyler from her body at the same time the wetness erupted from her. After her second, more powerful eruption, she grabbed Tyler's thighs and pulled him further into her when she sensed the onset of another one.

She realized now that she had been in a state of an orgasm from that moment until Tyler's post-orgasmic state could no longer sustain an erection, and withered out of her. He had remained inside of her after his own first climax, kissing her breasts, neck, ears, and lips until he had regained enough firmness. With him inside of her, Katie's body never had an opportunity to calm down before their journey continued.

If she lived until she was one hundred, Katie didn't think another sight would make her prouder of her effect on Tyler than witnessing his erection form as he attentively watched her walking back to the bed with a towel. He had removed the condom while she was retrieving the towel, and she saw the question in his eyes.

"Sure, put on a new one," Katie said as she spread the towel over the wet spot on the sheet. "I think this is the reason that someone invented the microwave oven."

~~~

"You've been busy," Tyler said.

"Are you referring to your dinner, or something else?" Katie asked.

"The dinner is wonderful, but I was referring to what you have done to your condo. It looks like someone lives here now."

Katie stuck out her tongue.

"What did you do with Sinbad and all of his stuff?" Tyler asked.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that Sinbad died sometime the night before last. I placed him in a container in the freezer so that Taylor could have a chance to see him before I have him cremated at the shelter. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Thanks for your consideration. I know that Taylor was excited about showing Sinbad to my parents, so this should help some with the disappointment. Are you okay with your loss?"

"Sure," Katie said as she finished her dinner. "I'll miss the little guy and the routine that caring for him brought to my daily existence, but like I said to you a few days ago, Sinbad had long exceeded his life expectancy, so I have been preparing myself for his passing. I have already loaded all of his habitat into the SSR, and will donate it to the shelter tomorrow."

"On a more positive note," Tyler said, "this is the best casserole of any type that I have ever tasted. I'm going to thank your mom for sharing the recipe with you."

"I'm sure that she would appreciate that," Katie said, "and as far as decorating the condo goes, you inspired me. It's all part of my new, 'show Tyler all of me' philosophy.

"I especially like all that you're showing me right now," Tyler said with a grin. "You have the most beautiful breasts. 34C?"

They were sitting across the dining room table from each other, and while the table obscured the view below the waist, Katie recognized that Tyler was feasting on the sight of her naked breasts almost as much as he was feasting on the casserole.

"Good guess, and thank you. I'm glad you like them, and they're glad you like them too, as you can probably tell."

"Your bright lights are definitely on," Tyler chuckled. "Are you sure that isn't because you're chilled?"

"What I'm sure of is that seeing you seeing me, and me seeing what that does to you, does things to me. Does that make sense?"

"I certainly do respond to you," Tyler said. "I'm just glad that you're not offended by my appreciation of you and your assets."

"I have put my 'assets' out there for others to see before," Katie said. "I just never appreciated the appreciation of them until you. I want to be the woman that you deserve, and I don't mean just physically, and on that point, no one will ever get to appreciate my assets again other than you."

"Don't tell me that you paid your way through college by working as a stripper or something," Tyler laughed.

"I didn't do it for the money. In fact, everything I made was donated to local women's shelters..."

"Wait, you mean you were a stripper?"

"No, I took classes on how to be a stripper and entered a few contests with my classmates. Let me get my cell phone and I'll show you something."

Katie walked over to the kitchen counter, retrieved her cell phone and motioned for Tyler to join her on the couch. Once they were seated next to each other, she opened a browser and found the website she was looking for.

"Here, this is the website for Rick's Cabaret outside San Antonio," Katie said as she handed her phone to Tyler.

"What's an 'Adult Entertainment and Education Venue'?" he asked.

"It's many things," Katie explained. "There is a section that most would equate to the standard 'Gentleman's Club', where guys can go to get a good meal, enjoy some drinks, watch some pretty girls take their clothes off, pay for a lap dance, and so on. There is a comparable section where women can get the same entertainment from male performers, similar to Chippendale's. Both of those sections are co-ed, and marketed primarily for couples to enjoy together."

She continued, "The 'education' part is the largest and most popular section, however. That is where one or both members of a couple can get training in how to entertain their partner. Men and women can learn how to perform a seductive routine in the privacy of their own homes. Most of the classes offer the participants the opportunity to enter a contest with their classmates to test out their progress in a safe and nurturing environment. The winners of the contests are determined by which classmates get the most 'tips' during their performance."

"So, you only bared your assets during these training classes, and only with other women present?" Tyler asked as he handed her phone back.

"Cile and I did continue practicing just for each other. She put on a mask and did a few amateur night performances in the main section, and she was a big hit. It almost motivated me to try it, but not quite."

"Well, the obvious question is, when do I get to benefit from your education?"

Katie straddled his lap and said, "Stripping, of course, is irrelevant right now, but there is a dance that I would like to try on your lap if you don't mind."

Tyler could feel droplets of Katie's arousal running down the inside of his thighs. "I left the condoms in the bedroom, and we should probably have something under us to protect the couch."

"I appreciate your concern," Katie whispered before tonguing his ear. She pulled back and showed Tyler her left forearm.

"Feel right here," she said, indicating a spot on her arm.

Tyler placed a finger against her skin and felt the spot that she had indicated. "What is it?" he asked.

"When you mentioned that I had been busy, you were right," Katie said, "only it was more than decorating the condo. I went in and had a progestin rod implanted. It's effective now, so condoms aren't required for birth control."

"Then why did you let me wear them?"

"Because I knew that we would be making love more than once tonight, and I have been told that most guys don't like 'sloppy seconds', even if it is their own semen. I was trying to be considerate of you, but since this will probably be the last time that we fool around tonight, we should be fine in that regard."

"Well, since I have never had the experience of 'sloppy seconds', as you put it, I can't say whether it would be something I would mind, but I have to believe that the feel of skin on skin would trump any objections I might have. So, no more condoms, tonight or until you say otherwise. There is still the couch to consider, though."

Katie had returned her attention to licking and nibbling on Tyler's ear, "The leather is treated."

She reached between their bodies and directed his erection to their 'happy place'.

Tyler watched Katie close her eyes as her body climaxed and noticed that it appeared almost involuntary; almost like how a person's eyes close when they sneeze. She didn't appear to need any assistance with her movements on his lap, so he removed his hands from her hips and put them to better use for her pleasure.

Caressing her left breast, Tyler experimented with which of his actions achieved what type of response; not just physically, but also to the colors and intensity of the energy that he saw surrounding her.

Tyler hadn't considered how making love to a woman that he was in love with would co completely redefine sex for him. He had never felt this degree of intimacy and passion or witnessed the love and desire that Katie continued to bestow on him. Her "glow" when she was aroused enveloped both of them; and he felt drawn closer to her very essence than he thought was humanly possible.

Her breasts were perky, firm and responsive to his touch in their entirety, but the nipples were especially alert to his attention. Beyond the physical responses, Tyler was sensing Katie's wants and needs. He instinctively knew the rhythm that she wanted at the time that she wanted it, the movements within her that would fuel her desire the most, and meeting those, he achieved more pleasure himself than he had ever experienced before tonight.

His own need was centered around pleasing her, and he reveled in the pleasure that he was deriving from that. He had never considered himself to be selfish where sex with a woman was concerned, but he felt completely selfless when making love to Katie.

"You're really mine, aren't you?" Katie panted with her eyes closed.

"For as long as you'll have me," Tyler responded.

"And you know that I am yours," Katie said.

"I assumed as much."

Tyler stilled all of his motions and let Katie's body move as she needed when her most intense orgasm of the night culminated. This generated a bright blue glow around her that radiated out and consumed both of their bodies. He felt her energy embracing him as she slowly calmed.

"I love you, Tyler. I love 'us'."

Chapter Thirteen

Sleeping naked together was everything that Katie and Tyler had imagined. Waking up naked together exceeded their expectations and required very little imagination for either of them.

"Someday, and I mean some day real soon, we're going to have to devote an entire day to simply being in bed together," Katie said as she reluctantly rolled herself away from Tyler's sweat covered body.

"Today is 'some day'," Tyler teased.

Katie giggled at his response and rose to stand beside the bed, "Yes, it is, but this someday I have a commitment at the shelter and your parents will be here this afternoon. If you promise to be good, I would like you to join me in the shower."

Tyler rose to lean against the headboard of the bed so he could admire the vision that Katie's naked body presented him. He knew that he had never seen a more beautiful sight, with her skin glistening from their lovemaking, her nipples still distended from her arousal, her neatly trimmed pubic hair slightly matted, and the now-familiar light blue glow slowly fading around her.

"I think we need a clearer definition of what being good constitutes for me to make that promise," he said.

"Fair enough," Katie said over her shoulder as she turned to head for the bathroom.

"'Good' in this context means that you stop me from further physical torment of your body by not purposely doing anything that would tempt me. However, now that I think about it, everything about you tempts me, so I guess I'll take my chances and excuse you from making any promises."

Tyler jumped out of the bed and ran around the foot of it to join her before she reached the door to the bathroom. He pulled her into his arms and placed his nose against hers.

"Physical torment, huh?" he whispered. "Young lady, you are the most pleasurable creature on this planet, and nothing has ever made me happier than making love to you. I'll make you one promise right now..."

"What?" Katie whispered back.

"I promise that I will always endeavor to make my love, desire, passion, and devotion to you as clear to you as it is for me."

"Oh, Tyler, I promise you the same. Always."

"Good. Now that we have that settled, let's get you cleaned, polished and off to the shelter."

Katie kissed him and said, "Yes, let's."

Tyler led her into the bathroom, opened the shower door and turned the water on, "How warm do you like the water?"

"I think that this morning, just a tad warmer than lukewarm would be nice," Katie said. "What about you?"

"That sounds like a good place to start," Tyler said. "Then we can adjust as needed. After you..."

Tyler stood aside to let Katie enter the shower. It was easily large enough for both of them, and as long as one of them took the handheld showerhead from its holder on the wall, they would be able to share the flow of water at the same time.

Katie quickly put her head under the showerhead to get her hair wet for shampooing. When she reached for the shampoo bottle, she discovered that Tyler was already holding it.

"Remember my promise?" he asked.

Katie just smiled and nodded.

Tyler squirted a small amount of shampoo onto the palm of his hand. After replacing the shampoo bottle into the rack where Katie kept it, he made a turning motion with his hand, indicating that he wanted Katie to turn around, with her back to him.

"Do you like your hair short?" he asked as rubbed his hands together to spread the shampoo between them.

"It's okay; easier to take care of certainly." She felt Tyler applying the shampoo evenly on the top of her head and gently spreading the lather around. "It doesn't provide as many options for styling though. What would you prefer?"

Tyler was taking his time, gently massaging the shampoo lather into all of Katie's hair, taking care not to get any in her eyes. "However you want to wear your hair is fine with me, just so long as you always let me wash it for you like this."

Katie realized that the "like this" Tyler was alluding to was the tip of his erection that she now felt at the small of her back. She giggled, wiggled her butt against him and asked, "Remember my promise?"

Tyler didn't answer, but said, "Okay, I think you're ready to rinse now."

Katie made quick work of rinsing the shampoo out of her hair, and then turned to face Tyler, "Your turn."

"You don't want any conditioner or anything?" he asked.

Katie shook her head, "I conditioned it yesterday. When it's this short, it doesn't require conditioning as often. Now trade places with me and get your hair wet. Please."

Tyler gave a mock salute and scooted around Katie as she shifted to let him pass. He stuck his head under the water while Katie retrieved the same shampoo bottle.

"Is there a different shampoo that you would prefer?" she asked when applying the shampoo to Tyler's hair.

"No, yours is fine. Heck, most times I just use the bar of soap on my hair instead of shampoo anyway. Your shampoo and soap aren't too girly smelling or anything, so I don't mind sharing if you don't."

"Whatever you want to use on your hair is fine with me, just so long as you always let me wash it for you like this."

To make her own reference clearer, she caressed Tyler's back with her wet breasts until she was certain that he could feel her hard nipples on his skin.

"Okay, you can rinse now," she told him.

Tyler rinsed the shampoo from his hair and then, by unspoken agreement, each washed their own bodies. Their singular submission to the naked and wet proximity of each other was a passionate kiss under the flowing water before Katie turned the shower off.

~~~

"I'm wondering if people think that I'm walking funny today," Katie said.

"Why?" Cile asked. "Are you sore?"

"Not really, which surprises me and doesn't surprise me at the same time. I hadn't had sex with a guy in more than three years, which is why I expected some discomfort. But I was so ready for Tyler, our bodies fit together so perfectly, and he was so gentle and loving that all I feel now is some tightness from overused muscles."

"That's not too bad," Cile said. "Sounds like a small price to pay for finally getting what you deserve. I'm so glad that everything met your expectations. I knew as soon as I saw the way that Tyler looked at you that he would rock your world, and you his."

"It did, and he does," Katie assured her cousin. "It was so hard pulling myself away from him this morning to go to the shelter. I probably should have stayed home since I was actually pretty worthless as a vet today. All I wanted was to be with him."

"Has my cousin become that much of a nymphomaniac already," Cile laughed.

"Probably," agreed Katie, "at least where Tyler is concerned. But seriously, I can hardly stand to even be away from him. I want to explore everything in life with him, and I feel cheated when he isn't with me. Don't get me wrong, I would have sex with Tyler anytime and anywhere, and exploring that aspect of our relationship is something I am really looking forward to, but there's so much more. For example, today someone brought in a litter of newborn puppies that they found after the mother had been hit by a car. While I was checking each of them, I kept wishing that Tyler was there to share the experience with me. I know that he would have been moved by it, and I almost cried thinking about him missing it."

"I can understand that," Cile said. "Tyler is the first guy that you have held super strong feelings for. It will take time for you two to gain the confidence in your relationship to trust that your time apart isn't a detraction or neglect of your feelings for each other."

"I know that things will adjust as we move forward," Katie said. "I just can't explain the way that I feel so different when I am away from Tyler than when we are together. It's literally as if a part of me has been removed from my being. When I'm with him, I am whole. I've heard the phrase 'you complete me' before, but now I truly understand its meaning. Being with Tyler really does make me a whole person for the first time in my life."

"God, I want that," Cile said.

"I want it for you too," Katie agreed. "I want you to experience the bliss that comes from finding your one and only life-long love. Our parents found it, JR found it, Joey found it, I found it, and so now we need to find it for you."

"Maybe I should go shoot somebody and see what kind of hunk I get investigating me," Cile teased. "How has your change in relationship affected that little challenge?"

"It hasn't so far. Listen, I need to run and start getting ready for Tyler's parents to arrive. I'll update you on everything next week. Want to have dinner with us at Rick's on Friday?"

"I thought you were leaving on Tuesday," Cile said. "It doesn't take that long to drive here."

Katie giggled, "I'm building some time into the trip for unexpected stops."

Cile laughed and said, "If they're unexpected, how do you plan for them?"

"Fine, have it your way. I'm building in some time during our trip for Tyler and me to do a little exploring. Satisfied?"

Cile was laughing harder when she said, "Not as satisfied as you're going to be."

"Probably not," Katie agreed with a laugh. "I'll keep you posted on our progress and we'll adjust as necessary. Okay?"

"Sounds good. Safe travels, and I really am so happy for you, Katie. Love you."

"I love you too, Cile. Bye."

Katie checked the time on the microwave oven before setting her cell phone onto the kitchen counter. It was almost four in the afternoon, so Tyler's parents should be arriving shortly. He had sent her a text message over an hour ago, confirming that Taylor's flight had arrived on time and his parents were waiting for her at the correct baggage claim location. Unless they had encountered heavier than normal traffic, the drive from the airport shouldn't have taken them more than forty-five minutes.

Standing in her kitchen, Katie decided to explore whether her previous 'connection' with Tyler was still present. Closing her eyes, she immediately saw Tyler talking to an older man as they approached the front door to his condo. Tyler had to set down the luggage that he had in his two hands to open the door, then he allowed the man, an older woman, and Taylor to enter the condo before he picked the luggage up again and followed the group, closing the door behind them.

Katie grinned at the revelation that she still could see Tyler in her head, and then frowned at the realization that she hadn't even considered trying the connection earlier today when she had missed him so much. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

She and Tyler had discussed earlier the expected agenda with his parents. He knew that Taylor would want to show them their condo before bringing their parents over to Katie's condo for before-dinner drinks. They didn't know how long Taylor would take with the tour of the condo, but neither could imagine it taking more than half an hour. The ringing of her doorbell so soon after their arrival didn't seem to match that agenda in the slightest.

Katie went to her front door and opened it with a smile on her face. Tyler had a sheepish grin on his face and Taylor was almost bouncing with excitement.

"Hi Katie, these are my parents, Edward and Sandra Davis," Taylor said. "Mom and Dad, this is Katie."

Although Tyler and Taylor's parents maintained impassive expressions and said nothing in the way of a greeting, Katie stepped aside and said, "Please come in."

Taylor led her parents into Katie's condo. Tyler paused to kiss Katie and take her hand as they followed behind the others. Taylor was just prepared to present Sinbad to her parents when she came up short upon noticing his absence from the living room.

"What happened to Sinbad?" Taylor asked.

"I'm sorry," Katie said, "Sinbad passed away the other night. I delayed his funeral until your return. Would you like to see him?"

There was a hint of tears in Taylor's eyes as she said, "Yes, please."

Tyler smiled at Katie and squeezed her hand before releasing it. Katie walked to her freezer and retrieved the container holding the remains of her jerboa. She handed it to Taylor.

Their parents simply stood in the living room, inspecting it as if they expected something to jump out and bite them.

"Please sit and make yourselves comfortable," Katie said to his parents. "Tyler, would you like to get the Margaritas out of the refrigerator while I get the glasses? Who wants salt on their rim?"

When his parents didn't respond, Tyler held up five fingers to her, indicating that she should salt all five glasses.

"I'm not twenty-one," Taylor said. "Could I get a virgin Margarita?"

"We have you covered," Tyler told his sister. He presented her with a pitcher of her own Margarita without the tequila, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier added. He held the larger pitcher with the regular Margaritas awaiting Katie's arrival with the glasses.

Katie set a glass in front of five of the six chairs around the dining table, and Tyler poured the drinks into each while Taylor poured her own. Tyler and Katie each picked up their glass, as did Taylor. It wasn't until Tyler proposed a toast to Taylor's return that his parents picked up their glasses. They still didn't appear inclined to sit at the table.

"Help yourselves to chips and salsa," Katie said. "Our dinner reservations are for six-thirty, so these might tide you over for a couple of hours."

Tyler picked up one of the small plates that Katie had provided at each place setting and spooned some salsa onto it, followed by a small pile of tortilla chips. Taylor followed her brother's lead, and Katie was surprised to see his mother and father soon filling their plates.

"Taylor says that this condo is a mirror image of hers and Tyler's," Edward Davis said.

"It is," Taylor said. "That's why I didn't think a tour of ours should be that much of a priority for today. You can get the downstairs layout from seeing Katie's condo, and since you're spending the night with me, you'll see the upstairs of ours tonight after dinner."

"Feel free to look around," Katie offered.

Edward and Sandra Davis casually walked into the living room area. While his focus seemed to be on the architectural aspects of the space, such as where electrical outlets were placed and crown molding installation details, hers was on the various photographs and paintings that Katie had hung on the walls or placed on tabletops.

Sandra Davis paused in front of one of the paintings and stared at it. Her focus on this particular painting drew the attention of Taylor, who walked over to join her mother. Mother and daughter whispered between themselves for several seconds before Taylor turned to address Katie.

"These pictures weren't here before, were they?" Taylor asked.

Katie shook her head and said, "No, I had them in storage upstairs until this past week."

Taylor's mother moved to look at another painting, "Are these all reproductions of Freeman-Harper paintings?"

"No," Katie answered as she walked over to join Taylor and her mother. She pointed to the bottom right-hand corner of the painting being examined and said, "Some are artist proofs, and some are the original. You can distinguish the difference by the small 'A/P' mark and proof number under the signature."

"I don't understand," said Sandra Davis. "This artist is one of the most reclusive and restrictive with the distribution of her works. She never allows them in galleries and restricts all reproductions. How could you have obtained genuine reproductions, let alone any of her original works?"

"Maybe this will help explain," Katie said, walking over to a side table and picking up a framed photograph that was sitting on it. She carried the photo back to Tyler's mom.

"Here, hold this and follow me," Katie said as she led the now fully assembled group of guests across the living room where another painting hung on display.

Taylor examined the photo that her mother still held and then studied the painting before them. "The painting is of this photograph."

Katie nodded and said, "Most of my mother's watercolor paintings were inspired by photographs that she had taken herself, but this particular photo was taken by my grandfather."

The picture in both the photograph and the painting was of a family walking on a pier, with a beautiful sunset in the background. They were walking toward the camera, the husband and wife holding hands and smiling proudly at a boy, who appeared to be around fifteen years old On the boy's shoulder sat a dark-haired little girl of approximately four years old. The expressions on the faces of the brother and sister conveyed nothing short of unconditional love and adoration for one another. It was first the photographer's, and then the artist's ability to capture the love so evident between these siblings that drew the viewer's attention to these images.

"My god," said Tyler, "you're the little girl in the picture."

Katie raised to kiss Tyler on the cheek, "Show Tyler everything, remember?"

"Your mother is the artist, Freeman-Harper?" asked a skeptical Sandra Davis.

"Would someone mind explaining to me who this artist is and why you are so excited about her work?" asked Edward Davis. "I admit her paintings are beautiful, but so are these others on the wall."

"Daddy!" exclaimed Taylor, "that's because all of these paintings are by the same artist, Freeman-Harper. Her style is to watercolor painting as Iris Scott's work is to finger painting."

"And who is Iris Scott?" Edward asked.

"Seriously Eddie,' Sandra said, "we have two Iris Scott reproductions in our own house. The ones with the dogs..."

"Now Sandy, you know I always leave the artwork and design decisions up to you..."

"Hang on a minute," Katie said.

She quickly walked up the stairs and disappeared for only a few seconds before returning carrying another large painting. She held it up for everyone to see. Sandra and Taylor both gasped at the same time.

"You have an Iris Scott reproduction too?" Taylor asked. "I thought I had seen all of Iris Scott's work, but I don't recognize this one."

The finger painting that Katie held depicted a young girl sitting on a small horse. She appeared to be scolding a Sheltie breed of dog which had one of the horse's reins in its mouth, pulling as if to stop the girl from riding away.

"It's not a reproduction," Katie explained. "It's an original commissioned by my father as a gift for my twelfth birthday. He retains exclusive rights to this picture, so that's why it would be unknown to the average Iris Scott fan."

Tyler was chuckling as he examined the frustrated look on the face of the girl, who he now recognized as an older version of Katie from the sunset picture.

"I'm sure there's a very heartwarming story that accompanies this picture," Tyler said.

Katie set the picture so that it was leaning against a wall and said, "It's actually kind of bittersweet. The dog in the picture was my first pet, Spenser. He was, of course, a pet for the entire family, but he was my responsibility for feeding and caring for him since I was four years old, so he and I had a special bond. He passed away when I was eleven. I was around eight when the photograph that the painting was made from was taken by my mom. I wasn't supposed to go riding unless my older brother, JR was with me, but on that day, JR was busy and I didn't want to wait. Spenser had jumped up and taken one of the reins in his teeth, and as you can see, he wouldn't let me ride alone. The picture reminds me of his love and devotion for me, even if I didn't always welcome it."

Sandra Davis took a seat at the dining room table and picked up her Margarita. She had an expression of deep thought as everyone else took seats to join her. Finally, she looked directly at Katie and spoke with a tone that was one-hundred and eighty degrees friendlier than anyone had heard before.

"You and your family are the Corvair family," Sandra said. "The Freeman-Harper series of paintings that depict a car called a Corvair is legendary, although few have ever seen them."

"Yes," Katie said. "All sixteen paintings in that series are hung in my parent's house in Texas. I do have copies of the photographs that each is based upon somewhere in the garage if you would like to see them sometime."

"So," Edward Davis said, "you don't just manage these condos, you own them."

"The Corvair Family Trust is the legal owner, but I, along with my parents and my brother are all co-trustees of the trust."

"I'm curious about why you and your family are so secretive," Edward said. "The visit we had from the Secret Service would imply that someone in your family is either very well connected politically or under investigation for something criminal."

Katie smiled and said, "I think I can explain things to your satisfaction, but if you don't mind, let's do that over dinner. I have a car service scheduled to be here shortly, and I wouldn't want to get interrupted in my explanation. Sound fair?"

Spooning some salsa onto her plate, Sandra Davis said, "That sounds very fair. Now, tell us more about yourself, Katie. Taylor says that you are a veterinarian, but also a student..."

~~~

Katie couldn't recall laughing so much in the last nine months. Tyler's mother had just finished another story from his childhood that, while she knew it had to be embarrassing for him, he accepted it good-naturedly. He sat mostly silent as both his parents and occasionally his sister would share their most humorous tales about Tyler.

"I really shouldn't laugh," Katie said. "By this time next week, I will likely find myself in the same position, with my family spilling every dirty secret they have about me to Tyler."

"That's what families are for," chuckled Eddie, as he had insisted that Katie call him, and Sandy had insisted on the same informality where she was concerned.

The waiter at the Newport Rib Company brought warm washcloths for everyone to use on their hands and face, if necessary, to clean any remnants of barbeque sauce after their meal. Everyone had used their fingers to eat the countless beef ribs that Katie had ordered, so the need for the washcloths was very real for all of them.

"You mentioned that your family typically spends the Christmas and New Year holidays out here?" Sandy asked. "I do hope that we all get the opportunity to get together while they are here."

Katie leaned her head on Tyler's shoulder and said, "Once they meet my guy, I am certain that they will be just as excited about meeting you as I was. You have raised the most wonderful man."

"Well, your parents must be equally proud of you," Sandy said. "I am so grateful that you have been such a positive influence on our daughter. She couldn't find a better role model, in my opinion."

"Thank you. Taylor is like the little sister that I never had," Katie said, reaching across the table to squeeze Taylor's hands.

"I hope that your parents don't hold our protective curiosity against us," said Eddie. "We meant no disrespect by our efforts to learn more about you or your family."

"Trust me," Katie said, "Once my dad learned who was making the inquiries, he was perfectly fine with your actions. I know that once you two meet, he will be more than happy to answer any questions you have to reassure you about all of us."

"Your family appears to be fairly well off, financially," Eddie said. "I assume that this was not a result of your father's government service."

"Definitely not. He holds several significant patents which generate substantial licensing revenue, as well as owning his own consulting company that employs over five thousand people around the world and he has partial ownership of a few more companies."

"That all sounds very impressive," Sandy said, "but surely it is his role within the government that is the impetus for privacy."

Katie nodded slightly and pulled out her cell phone. She launched an address finder application and entered "Oglethorpe-Davis" into the search field. Once the results were displayed, she turned the phone so that Tyler's parents and sister could see the screen.

"If I do an address search for Oglethorpe-Davis, which isn't that common of a surname, here are the results. You will notice the address for Taylor at the condo is listed, as well as what I assume is the address for your house in Pacific Palisades."

The trio examined the addresses listed and all nodded.

"Tyler, why didn't your name and address come up in the results?" Katie asked.

"Because I am in law enforcement. My address information is restricted so that anyone with a grudge against me won't be able to find it like you did with Taylor."

"Do you think that anyone with a grudge against you would hesitate to use Taylor against you? With a surname as unique as Oglethorpe-Davis, it would be an easy assumption by anyone that Taylor was related to you."

"She's right son," said Eddie.

"I doubt that the risk for Taylor is that bad," Katie offered to calm the anxiety that her revelation might have created for the family. "My point is that Tyler's address information is restricted because he is in law enforcement, but it wouldn't be difficult for someone enterprising enough to find him through Taylor, or to use her for revenge against him. Now, I would like for you to take that same scenario and multiply it by a factor of a thousand or more. While Tyler's law enforcement reach is limited to California, what if it was larger; say national or even international? Would the risk be the same?"

Tyler and his family shared looks between themselves but didn't respond to Katie's question, so she continued, "My father has made a career out of protecting this country, often from people, countries or organizations who hold grudges for a very long time. The only thing that he loves more than his country is his family, so he will go to any lengths necessary to protect us. The best way to do that is to keep our identities as private as possible."

"I think I can respect that more now than ever before," Tyler said. "I am really looking forward to meeting your dad."

"So am I," said Eddie. "Any man that committed to protecting both his country and his family deserves the respect and admiration of us all."

"So," said Sandy, "should we pay the tab and go back for more after dinner libations at your condo?"

"Dinner is on me," Katie said, "as a welcome home treat for Taylor, and it's already taken care of."

"You don't have to do that," Taylor said.

"That's what families are for," Katie said.

~~~

"I hope I can make as good of an impression on your family as you have made with mine," Tyler said.

"Just be the same, wonderful guy that you have always been around me and they'll love you almost as much as I do. There's a spot open on the right up there."

Tyler saw the parking spot that Katie had indicated and steered the SSR into it. She had insisted that he drive it to breakfast so that he gained a full appreciation for how fun it was to drive. As soon as he had placed the vehicle into "park", Katie pushed the button on the dash that would raise the hardtop convertible roof back into place.

Tyler got out on his side and then walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Katie. He tried to hand her the key that she had given him, but she shook her head as she stood.

"That set is yours," she explained. "Do you see your parent's car anywhere yet?"

Katie had explained to his parents that she and Tyler had plans after breakfast to drive along the beach in her new SSR, so they should meet them at the Newport Pier parking area in their car. Tyler was surveying the parking lot and finally noticed his parent's car just pulling into the lot. He signaled to get their attention and then pointed to an open space in the aisle next to the one he had parked Katie's car in.

While they were waiting for his parents to park, Tyler used the app on his cell phone to identify the space he had parked in, and to pay for two hours of parking. He then walked over and did the same for the space his father had just pulled into. Taylor came bouncing out of the car.

"Katie, I love your new truck! Can you help me find one like it? Daddy said that he would buy one for me if we could find another."

Katie and Tyler both laughed as he gave her an "I told you so" look.

"Let's discuss it over breakfast," Katie said. "Follow me."

The group walked across the parking lot towards the reception podium for Charley's Chili. This historic restaurant was a landmark near the entrance to Newport Pier, and was a very popular place for breakfast, especially if you could wrangle an outside table on a beautiful summer morning such as this.

"I tried to get us a reservation", Taylor said, "but they told me that they don't take reservations."

"No, they don't," Katie agreed. "Too many people would make reservations for an outside table and then not show up. I think we'll be okay, though. Look."

Katie directed their attention to a couple of busboys who had just finished setting a new table along the perimeter closest to the pier, placing six chairs around it, followed by placing a sign that said "Private Party".

"Is that for us?" Sandy asked.

"It should be," Katie said. "Go ahead and take seats there and I'll verify that it's for us."

While Eddie, Sandy, and Taylor assumed seats at the table, Tyler kept hold of Katie's hand as she approached the podium, bypassing more than a dozen guests waiting patiently for an outside table to become available.

"Hi Katie," the receptionist said. "Your table has been placed just as you requested. Do you want me to bring over menus, or do you want to take them yourself?"

"Thanks, Brianna. I'll take them. Do you know who our server will be?"

"Hey!" came a voice from the crowd of waiting guests, "we were here first. Why do they get to just walk up and take that table?"

Brianna smiled at the woman and said, "Because she owns that particular table. If you brought your own table with you, I'll see if we can find a place to set it up for you."

Brianna winked at Katie and said, "Carmen will be your server today."

"Thanks, Brianna. Please serve Mimosas to any of the waiting guests who want one and put it on my check."

Brianna nodded as Katie turned and led Tyler back to the table, where he pulled a chair out for her and took the one beside it.

"You don't really own this particular table, do you?" Tyler asked after taking his seat.

Katie giggled and said, "Technically, I own approximately a third of the tables here. Or, maybe I should say that my personal trust fund owns them. It's one of several small business investments the fund holds. The restaurant we ate at last night is another of them. I hold a little over twenty-five percent ownership of that one."

"Restaurants can be very risky investments," Eddie said.

"They can be," Katie agreed, "but they're a very small percentage of the fund's total portfolio of investments, and I only partner with places that I personally like and with proven track records of growth over more than a dozen years. Family-owned restaurants can be particularly risky if the next generation doesn't embrace the traditions that have made the place a success. I do my homework before deciding, believe me."

"Well, if the food here is as pleasant as the location, this place should be a goldmine," Sandy said.

"I'll let you decide," said Katie as she handed each of them a menu.

Katie ordered Mimosas for everyone except Taylor, who received plain orange juice. After the meal orders were placed, Taylor addressed her parents.

"I want to change my major to Fashion and Interior Design," she told them.

"Does UCI offer programs in Design?" Sandy asked.

"No, but since classes haven't started yet, I could transfer to another school that did offer the programs without any penalties."

Tyler and Katie just held hands and listened to the conversation.

"Another school, such as what?" Sandy asked.

Taylor sat up straighter in her chair and said, "The University of San Francisco."

"I'm not moving to San Francisco," Tyler said.

"I would agree to live in the dorms so you wouldn't have to," Taylor told her brother.

"But we just signed a lease on the apartment..." Eddie said.

Katie entered the conversation, "Don't let the lease of the apartment factor into this decision. It's not an issue."

"Thank you, Katie," said Sandy. "Why the change of plans now, Taylor?"

"The symposium and design conference you asked me to attend for you last week convinced me that I want to be a designer, like you Mom. Maybe even run your business for you someday."

There were tears in the corners of Sandra Davis' eyes as she leaned over to hug her daughter.

Eddie just said, "If you want to follow in your mother's footsteps, Sweetheart, we'll make it possible for you. Tyler, are you okay staying in the condo or would you want to move back into the Valley?"

Katie spoke before Tyler could answer, "Why don't we table the discussion on Tyler's plans until after him and I return from Texas? There might be other options for him to consider by then."

Tyler was about to say, "Oh really", when he felt more than saw the light blue glow of Katie's energy once again surrounding him. "Yes," he thought, there may indeed be other options that he would want to consider. He was also once again amazed that no one else at the table or surrounding tables seemed to take notice of Katie's glow. Why was it so obvious to him, but no one else?

"Thanks, Mom and Dad," Taylor said. "Will you still buy me a truck like Katie's too?"

"Before you get your heart set on buying an SSR," Katie said, "you need to consider some things..."

"Like what?" asked Taylor.

"First, finding one won't be easy, and if it is in good condition, it will come at a premium price. Second, it will likely require significantly more maintenance than any cars you have driven previously. That of course, will vary depending upon how well it has been maintained up until now. Third, and probably most important where you are concerned, is that your ability to drive the SSR here in California will be restricted by the emission regulations. I believe you would only be able to drive it an average of four hours per day, and then only on days when there wasn't an air quality advisory in effect."

"Katie's right," Tyler told his sister.

"I'm really coming to understand why people are leaving this state at such a high rate," Taylor said. "Maybe we should consider moving too?"

Katie wanted to laugh, but the arrival of their breakfast meals distracted everyone enough to allow the subject of the conversation to change.

Katie addressed Sandra Davis, "I noticed when I did the address search for 'Oglethorpe-Davis', your name didn't come up either."

"No, it wouldn't," Sandy said. "I use Oglethorpe-Davis professionally, but when Eddie and I were married, I took just his last name."

"Yet you added your maiden name to the last name of your children. Please don't take anything I say as criticism, but do you realize what you did by doing that?"

Sandy nodded, and said, "About the time that Taylor reached the age where she started dating, the thought of her eventual marriage revealed my mistake to me. I hadn't considered it with Tyler, or I should say with whomever he might eventually marry."

"Well, I have," Katie said, which brought a smile to Sandy's face, and an even bigger smile to Tyler's.

"Katie," Sandy said, "if the time comes when you and Tyler have to make decisions on things like what name you will use, you have mine and Eddie's blessing to do whatever you both feel works best for you."

"Me too, Mom?" asked Taylor.

"You too, Sweetie."

Katie felt Tyler squeezing her hand and smiled back at him. She hoped that all the challenges that they faced together could be resolved as easily as that one had.

Challenges like his ongoing search for his mystery woman; for her.

~~~

"What are your fantasies?" Katie asked.

She was laying with her head on Tyler's naked chest, and they had been talking about a variety of subjects for close to thirty minutes. Their plan to drive along the coast was scratched almost as soon as it started due to the amount of traffic along Pacific Coast Highway. The need to focus on other drivers in stop-and-go traffic drew both of their attention away from the scenery, and that was what had inspired the idea in the first place.

Once more, by some unspoken, mutual agreement, they had ended up back at the condo by ten in the morning and back in bed together almost immediately after that. They hadn't had sex since their return, but simply laid naked together, talking and enjoying the intimate time shared only between the two of them.

"I assume that you aren't referring to any fantasies I might have about pitching in the World Series or anything like that," Tyler said.

"That would be a correct assumption," Katie said. "I am referring to any fantasies that you and I could potentially share together."

"Before I answer, can I ask you a question?"

"Okay."

"Has anyone else ever mentioned their ability to see the glow around you?"

"Since I have been making love to you, I'm certain that everyone can see me glow," Katie said.

"Quit being a brat," Tyler said. "It has to be more than your explanation about an overabundance of love for me that allows me to see it when no one else seems to. So, tell me, has anyone else ever mentioned seeing it?"

Katie hesitated for a minute before answering, "They never said anything, but I think now that my brother and dad might have seen what you described. The way that they would look at me sometimes made me think that they saw something that they questioned or didn't understand. Maybe this glow is what they were seeing."

"Maybe," said Tyler. "I hope that you are okay with me seeing it, and being able to detect things about you from it."

"What can you detect?"

"Your moods mostly. I'm still learning to decipher the different colors and intensities that I have witnessed..."

"It has different colors?" Katie asked.

"It's like a freakin rainbow," Tyler told her. "And, it either gets brighter or expands further from you as your feelings get stronger about something. I have actually felt it embracing me."

"See, it must be related to my love for you. I also love my brother and father, so that's why they could see it too."

"Except I saw it around you before you loved me," Tyler told her. "I might not have recognized it at the time, but the first time we met, when me and Taylor came to see the condo for rent, I saw it around you then."

"Tyler, thinking back on that day, when I first met you, I know now that I loved you at first sight. There has always been something that has drawn me to you that I couldn't explain, kind of like ESP. In fact, you might think me crazy, but there have been several times when I could close my eyes and literally see inside you; what you were doing, where you were, what you were thinking. It's not all the time, but there is this occasional connection that puts me into your head and your heart. That's how I am so confident in your love for me."

"I have sensed you!" Tyler said. "There have been times that we were apart when I knew that you were with me. I could feel your presence. Katie, it was always welcomed."

"God, Tyler, I love you so much."

"Right back at you, Katie. So, you wanted to know about my fantasies..."

Katie raised and kissed his lips, "Oh, you score major points for getting back on topic. Yes, what are your fantasies?"

"They are the same as yours, of course; exploration and the occasional novelty, variety, or adventure."

"Oh, you and my father are going to get along just fine..."

"I hadn't planned on discussing my fantasies with your father, but if you think I should..."

Katie bit Tyler's right nipple, just hard enough to make her point, "Now who's being the brat? I was referring to you both apparently having what my mom has diagnosed as 'selective disclosure disorder'."

Tyler rubbed his now tender nipple and asked, "What disorder?"

"Selective disclosure disorder. It's when you are asked a question and only give a partial answer, making the person asking the question have to keep asking questions to get the complete answer they were seeking. My mom has always said that asking my father anything was like peeling an onion. Please don't be that way, Tyler. Peeling onions makes me cry."

"I understand," Tyler said, "but if you want specific answers, you need to learn how to ask specific questions."

"Fair enough. I agree with the generalities of your response where exploration, adventure, novelty, and variety are concerned. Can you please be more specific in your definition of each of those?"

"I can certainly try. Let's start with exploration. I define that as us being attentive to each other, learning what pleases and what doesn't. It will involve open communication, trust, awareness, and imagination for both of us. More specific to a previous conversation we have had, I believe this is where you and I will be building a majority of the sensory memories of each other that we both want."

"That's a pretty good definition," Katie said. "I would only add that exploration extends beyond sex. It should involve all of our intimacies, romantic interludes, and even how we tease each other when we are apart. We've already started there, and so far, I have been quite pleased. How about you?"

"Extremely pleased," Tyler assured her.

"Good. Care to move on to the next definition? Why don't you tackle 'novelty' next?"

"Novelty would typically be trying things for the first time, or only on a rare occasion," Tyler said. "Things like making love in the shower or other locations around the condo would be an example. Different positions or sexual acts might fit into the definition, although the novelty of some might wear off after a while if they become more routine for us."

"It sounds almost like you are defining things that we do in the privacy of our own home as a novelty," Katie said. "Would you then consider the same things outside of our home as 'adventure'?"

"Pretty much," Tyler said. "Making love on a secluded beach would be adventurous and definitely a novelty as far as I'm concerned, but adventure, at least to me, implies a slightly higher risk factor. The chance of getting caught while making love on a secluded beach would place it into the adventure category instead of the novelty one. You wearing a dress without anything under it would be a novelty in our home, but an adventure in public. Does that make sense to you?"

"It does, and would you like that? Would you like for me to go out in public with nothing underneath my dress?"

"Only if I was with you, and the circumstances were appropriate," Tyler said. "I'm not interested in you flashing other people, but the carnal knowledge of your exposure under the dress, especially in a formal or professional event could be very arousing for both of us. Maybe we could include Ben Wa balls or even a butt plug at some point."

Katie's arousal suddenly flared, "Wow! Your definitions are certainly all I was hoping for, and you're right about my fantasies being the same. I think more than anything else, I want for us to always feel free to play with and enjoy each other, openly and completely. While I have no interest in bringing another person, male or female into our relationship, I think almost anything else between the two of us will always be on the table for discussion for me."

"Me too," Tyler said. "And on that point, there is something I would like to lay out on said table for discussion..."

Katie giggled and said, "Go right ahead."

"There is something that I have been craving. It's a selfish desire of mine that would pose no expectation of reciprocation on your part. If you would be agreeable, I want to make love to you using only my mouth."

"Jesus, Tyler, how do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Get inside my head to know exactly what I myself have been craving to do to you. I'm laying here, watering at the mouth just wanting to taste every inch of your body, and you express the same exact desire. How do you do that?"

"Does that mean that you're agreeing or not?"

"I agree on one condition," Katie said, "actually two conditions."

"Which are?" Tyler asked.

"We do this one at a time. I want to focus on you and I know that your mouth on any part of my body would be too much of a distraction."

"I agree that one at a time would be best for our first time. What else?"

Katie raised and climbed fully on top of Tyler's body so she could look directly into his eyes. He saw desire that left him speechless, and he silently prayed that Katie saw the same thing in his eyes, because he certainly felt it.

"The other condition," she whispered, "is that I go first."

Chapter Fourteen

Tyler saw the mischievous glance from Katie in the mirror as she adjusted the shoulder straps on the flower-print sundress that she had just slipped over her naked body. He simply winked at her and finished drying his body.

"Two can play this game", he thought.

She had been first out of the shower, allowing Tyler the opportunity to shave there, leaving the bathroom vanity and mirror free for her to use in its entirety. With her short hair and minimal need for any makeup, Katie had made the bed and added her toiletries into the duffel bag that she had previously packed for their trip.

Just as Katie had done, Tyler remained naked as he finished up in the bathroom, then finished packing his bag with everything that he would be taking, except the clothes he had chosen to wear that day. He made certain that Katie was in a position to pay attention as he slipped his Levi 501 jeans over his naked body, leaving the fly unbuttoned as he sat to put on his shoes and socks.

Katie grinned and nodded approvingly when she saw that her guy was going "commando". That would make her plans to keep him aroused for the entire trip to Texas much more convenient for her. The thoughts of what she wanted to do reminded her to put a spare package of tissue into her purse so that she would have quick and easy access to them.

Tyler strapped his ankle holster to his left leg and pulled the jeans over the gun before standing and finally buttoning his pants. He pulled a UCLA logoed polo shirt over his head and then asked, "Are you all set?"

Katie walked over to Tyler and put her hands on either side of his face. She pulled his face to hers and planted a wet, noisy kiss onto his lips.

"Oh, Cutie, you don't know just how ready I am to get you on the road, where you'll be at my mercy for hours on end."

Tyler scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the bedroom into the living room before setting her down.

"Just remember," he told her, "Whatever you do today, you'll have to sleep with tonight."

"Duh! That's kind of the point. Anyway, you get the bags and I'll turn up the thermostat so the air conditioning isn't running the whole time we're gone. The Santa Ana winds are forecast for later this week and the temperature here is supposed to be close to one hundred for several days."

Tyler retrieved their bags and Katie's purse from the bedroom and joined her at the door from the kitchen to the garage. The cargo area cover on the SSR was still open from the packing of a tarp and heavy moving blanket that Katie had placed in it last night.

"Just in case," she had said, and Tyler didn't have to ask "In case of what?".

Tyler handed Katie her duffel bag so that she could place it where she wanted, then he put his in next to hers, and his computer backpack next to that. He lowered the cargo cover until he heard the latch engage, and then walked with Katie around to open her door for her. Katie kissed him one more time before sliding into her seat.

By the time that Tyler had walked to the driver's side door, opened it and taken his seat, Katie had pulled the hem of her dress up to her waist. It fell from her waist to pool around her hips, barely covering her pubic hair.

"I think I should maintain a slight degree of modesty until we get out of the urban area," she said. "Do you agree?"

Tyler laughed and started the car. They had agreed to keep the hardtop up since the dessert heat that they would encounter within a few hours was projected to top one-hundred degrees for most of their route. Besides making the air conditioning more effective while they drove, having the top up would also afford them more privacy for the games Katie had planned.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Katie unbutton the top five buttons on her dress and adjust it so that he would have a clear and unobstructed view of her right breast, but no one passing on her side of the car would see it. The seatbelt held the dress tight against her left breast, however, the distended nipple beneath the fabric was very evident.

"You checked the traffic reports, didn't you?" Tyler asked. "Are we still good with our planned route?"

"I have the traffic app opened right here," Katie said, holding up her cell phone for Tyler to see. "Let's stick with the toll road to the Ninety-One freeway, then east on that to Interstate 15 south. It shows some slowing currently in the Rancho Bernardo area, but that's probably the typical rush-hour traffic and it should be gone by the time we get there."

"Especially if we stop to do some 'exploring' along the way," Tyler teased.

"Oh, I'll be 'exploring' the whole way," Katie giggled.

Until Sunday, Katie had never tried oral sex; either giving or receiving. Tyler appeared to be a master at giving her pleasure, as well as an encouraging instructor for her exploration of him. She knew that she had a lot to learn, but one thing that she had discovered immediately was that she loved the control over Tyler's levels of arousal that having his erection in her hands or mouth provided her.

They had just entered the on-ramp to the toll road when Tyler's cell phone rang. He checked the time on the dashboard clock before tapping the "Answer" button on the steering wheel. It was just after eight o'clock in the morning.

"Hello..." Tyler said into the microphone integrated into the rearview mirror.

"Hey Tyler," Dennis' voice came out from the stereo speakers. "I wanted to let you know that I submitted my resignation last night as we discussed, so if Alfaro tries to call you, you might want to ignore him. Otherwise, he'll probably want you to postpone your vacation."

Dennis' attempts to identify which government agency was responsible for protecting the identity of the mystery woman had brought him to the attention of someone in the Treasury Department, and they had been impressed with what they had seen. Dennis had interviewed for a position within the Inspector General's office in a rare Saturday meeting at the Federal Building in Los Angeles and offered a senior investigator position on Monday morning. The caveat was that they wanted him to be at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center outside Brunswick, Georgia by the end of this week.

With Claire accepting her promotion to run the Inland Empire district for the State Police, Dennis' resignation would leave Tyler as the sole agent in Orange County until other agents could be transferred in, and the only one familiar with the Shoreline Mall case. Dennis was right, Alfaro would definitely want him to postpone his vacation to keep working the case, alone if necessary.

"Thanks for the heads-up," Tyler told Dennis. "Has Claire submitted her final updates for the case files?"

"I checked before calling you, and yes, for what it's worth, she has updated everything. I'll have my updates completed within the hour, but again, I'm afraid that they won't be worth much. Sorry partner."

"Don't sweat it," Tyler said. "I'm ready to tell Alfaro where he can put this case and walk away myself. This isn't what I signed up for and I don't need more of his abuse over it."

"You're preaching to the choir," Dennis laughed. "If this position with the Treasury Department hadn't come up, Haley and I had been discussing me going out on my own to start my own security operation focused upon celebrities. She thinks that with her as a client, I would get instant credibility and draw lots of business."

"How does she feel about your new job offer?"

"She is actually amazingly supportive. In fact, she says that she will be looking into someplace near FLETC for her to stay so that we can see each other while I am out there. As you know, students attending FLETC classes are required to stay in the on-base housing, but that doesn't mean we are held captive twenty-four seven."

Tyler glanced over at Katie and saw her sitting patiently, occasionally glancing down at the traffic app on her cell phone.

"How long are you expected to be at FLETC?", Tyler asked.

"I'm not certain right now. There are some mandatory courses there for me to attend, and not all of them are scheduled at convenient times for them to run concurrently, so there may be weeks when I have nothing scheduled. Then there are the classes I don't have to attend, but that I should audit to see what other Treasury agents are taught. I expect I'll be there at least thirty, possibly up to ninety days."

"Glynco is not the most pleasant environment this time of year," Tyler said. "Try to get any required physical training out of the way as early in the day as possible and stay inside as much as you can. You're also heading there in the peak of hurricane season, so pay attention to any advisories."

Katie knew that "Glynco" was a portmanteau for Glynn County, which is where the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center was located. To her knowledge, she still held the woman's record on the tactical shooting range there.

"So I've been told," Dennis said. "Listen, I've got to run right now, but I have your personal e-mail address, and I'll use that to send you any updates on Alfaro's mood as soon as I learn them. Enjoy your vacation."

"I'm sure that I will," Tyler said with a chuckle as he felt Katie's left hand on his right thigh. "Thanks, and good luck."

"Is the case you were talking about that one about the mall shooting?" Katie asked once Tyler had disconnected his call with Dennis.

"That's the one. Now I'm the only agent working it, and as you heard, the Attorney General might want me to focus on it rather than take a vacation right now."

"Then hand me your phone and I'll turn it off for you."

Tyler removed his cell phone from the pouch on his belt and passed it over to Katie. She made quick order of turning the phone off before handing it back to him.

"You being the only agent working the case could be to your benefit," Katie said with a grin. "Now if you ever do identify this mystery woman, you won't have to worry about sharing the knowledge with your partners. That's what you had hoped for isn't it?"

"Well, since I'm no closer to identifying her now than when I had two partners helping me, it is probably a moot point."

"Were you serious about what you said?" Katie asked.

"Which part?" Tyler asked.

"The part about 'walking away'."

Tyler thought about her question for several seconds before answering, "I have been giving some thought to resigning recently, and not just because of the abuse that Alfaro has been bestowing upon me and the others about this case. I've also considering what I would do if you had to relocate. I want to be as supportive as possible to whatever you want for your career, and I am fortunate enough to have both financial and career options that would allow me to go wherever you need to go. If you wanted me to, of course."

"Stop the car!" Katie said.

"What?"

"Find someplace to pull over and stop the car. Now!"

"Okay, settle down..."

Tyler saw the toll booth area approaching. There was a pull-out area to the far right where booth workers could park their personal vehicles. He maneuvered the SSR across two lanes of traffic in time to pull in behind the last parked car. When he saw Katie opening her door to get out, he quickly unfastened his seatbelt and opened his door to join her. She had rounded the hood of the car and was waiting for him as he stood.

Pounding on his chest, Katie had tears in her eyes as she cried, "Why don't you believe me?"

"Katie...what?"

"Tyler, I love you with every molecule of my existence. Why don't you believe that?"

"Katie, I love you too much to assume anything. Anything. Remember that is one reason that we are exploring things with each other. It has nothing to do with not believing you, or believing in us..."

"It's not an assumption to know that I am never going to let you out of my life," Katie said as she threw her arms around Tyler. "That is a rock-solid fact. When career choices or anything else that could separate us arise, we will deal with them together. Okay? So, no more of this, 'if you wanted me to' bullshit. You're stuck with me for eternity."

"That's a burden I will gladly bear," said Tyler.

Katie brought her lips to his. The attention that they had drawn from the toll booth workers and other drivers was ignored as her tongue sought and danced with his for several minutes along the side of the road.

~~~

They made it as far as Picacho State Park, north of Tucson, Arizona before stopping for the night.

Katie had quickly become frustrated with the obstacles imposed upon her plans to please Tyler during the drive. If the center console wasn't bad enough, the shoulder harness of her seatbelt further restricted her. She had considered unfastening the seatbelt so that she could lean over far enough to get her mouth on her target, but Tyler wouldn't allow it.

Her alternative was to unbutton his fly, and then to use her left hand on his erection and her right hand on herself. While she was able to coax two orgasms out of Tyler during the eight-hour drive, Tyler teased her that the number eight on the highway signs indicated the interstate that they were on, not some minimum number of orgasms that she should target while they were driving it."

"Well, maybe it should be," Katie had moaned as her next orgasm subsided. "We'll be on Interstate 10 soon, and that would make me up my game."

Katie's only requirement when they were searching for a hotel, was that it had to provide room service. She explained that although they needed to eat something for dinner, she needed to be naked and "intimately involved" with Tyler more than food. He couldn't argue her point since he had the same need.

Wednesday morning, they were back on the road by five o'clock to enable them to beat any rush-hour traffic as they passed through Tucson. They could have made it all the way to LaVernia, Texas, that day, but when they stopped for gas just outside of Fort Stockton just after two in the afternoon, Katie saw a store that she insisted they visit.

They had been the only customers in the Lion's Den Adult Store for the entire hour that Katie perused the inventory. After making her purchase, she had suggested that they find a hotel in Fort Stockton where they could take a swim, and later try out the items that she had bought.

Tyler knew that Katie had packed multiple bikinis since she anticipated that a lot of their time at her parent's house would be spent around their swimming pool. The bikini that she selected once they had checked into their hotel room took Tyler's breath away. It wasn't especially revealing, but the light tan or cream color was the closest thing to flesh tone that he had ever seen on fabric of any type. The color contrasted with her own skin tone perfectly to give the illusion that Katie was naked, and the bikini was actually her tan lines.

Seeing Tyler's jaw drop at the sight of her, Katie radiated her pleasure at his response, "I think you like this bikini," she said as she spun around to give him the complete view.

"Uh, yeah, but don't you think that the indecent illusion it presents makes it more suitable for our private enjoyment rather than a public display?"

Katie strolled over to Tyler and took his hand, "It will be fine. Trust me. Come on."

Tyler allowed Katie to lead him out of their room and the few steps across the courtyard to the pool area of the hotel. There were only a half-dozen other adult guests in the area, who were lounging on chairs underneath umbrellas, and all of whom took instant notice of Katie as she walked hand in hand with Tyler to the edge of the pool.

Tyler saw two of the men shading their eyes to get a clearer view of what they thought they had seen, but before they could gain total clarity of what Katie was, or wasn't wearing, she released Tyler's hand and dove elegantly into the deep end of the swimming pool.

When her head broke the surface, she was in water shallow enough for her to stand with just her head above the surface. She turned to Tyler and said, "Hurry up, I don't want to spend too much time here, but what time I do spend, I want it to be with you."

Tyler jumped far enough into the pool to land upright less than two feet from Katie. She launched herself into his arms and said, "Lift me out of the water."

"As you wish," he said, placing a hand on each side of her waist and hoisting her up until her navel was at the perfect level for him to kiss it. The purpose of her request became apparent as first the top of her bikini, and then the bottoms came into view. They were both now a striking royal blue color and looked to be made out of satin.

Katie was laughing profusely as Tyler lowered her back into the water. She threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Is my guy cooled off enough to get heated up?" Katie whispered in his ear.

"I think I may need to swim a few laps before I will be ready to get out of the pool without embarrassing myself," Tyler said.

Katie suspected that she knew the condition that had Tyler concerned, but she lowered herself enough to verify that his erection was very noticeable through his swim trunks.

"I'll get out first and hand you a towel," she offered. "You can use that to protect your modesty until we're back in the room."

"I guess that's worth a try."

Tyler knew that the water level in the swimming pool had to have been displaced by several gallons as his erection grew stronger at the sight of Katie's wet sultry body climbing up the stairs of the pool to retrieve their towels. The other guests were making no secret of their admiration of her beauty, with the men finding ways to cover their laps, and the women fanning themselves.

Katie stood at the side of the pool, with her back to the other guests and effectively shielding Tyler from their view as he climbed the stairs to the towel that she held out for him. He held the folded towel in front of his swimsuit, took Katie's hand and they quickly walked back to their room.

Tyler had barely closed the door to their room before he felt something wet land across his right shoulder. As he turned around to face her, he reached up and pulled Katie's bikini top off his shoulder, just in time to catch the bottoms as she kicked them in his direction.

"That was a cute trick with the color-changing fabric," Tyler said.

"I thought that you might like it," Katie said as she came over and began lowering Tyler's swimsuit to the floor. "Cile helped me pick it out, so if you see her in one similar this weekend, don't be surprised."

Katie bent down to pick up Tyler's swimsuit and then extended her hand for the pieces of her bikini that he still held. Tyler handed them to her and felt his erection strengthening again as he watched her walk into the bathroom to hang their items up to dry.

Katie came bounding back into the room and went directly to the black plastic bag on the dresser. She pulled out the first container and held it up for Tyler to see.

"These would just get in the way right now, so we'll save them for some other time and place."

She put the package containing the Ben Wa balls back into the bag and pulled out another item. It was a small ostrich feather.

"I think we could make use of this, however."

She placed the feather on the side table next to the bed, and then pulled the next item from the bag.

"Watermelon sounds like an appropriate flavor for a warm summer afternoon romp with my guy."

She had selected a variety of flavored lubricants for them to share, and Tyler could not disagree with her first choice for them to try.

"Now," Katie said with what Tyler now recognized as her patented seductress smile, made just for him, "for my next trick, I am going to make my guy's boner disappear. Don't worry though, I will make certain to bring it back."

~~~

"It looks like I won't have to give you directions any longer," Katie said. "Just follow that fire chief's pick-up truck that just turned in front of us. That's my dad driving."

Tyler had just made the left from US Highway 87 to Texas FM 775 and was driving through what constituted a downtown for the city of LaVernia. They had delayed their departure from Fort Stockton until after a leisurely, sit-down breakfast to allow any morning traffic through San Antonio to dissipate before they had to drive through the city.

Katie had contemplated directing Tyler into downtown San Antonio so they could drive past the Alamo, and then have an early lunch at one of the cantinas along the famed Riverwalk, but she was too anxious to get to their destination for any side trips. Now they were on the final leg of their journey to her parent's home southeast of the metropolitan area.

The convertible top on the SSR was down, so Katie had no obstacle to raising her hand and waving at the truck that Tyler had pulled closer to. The emergency lights on the roof of the truck came on momentarily as a signal that Katie had drawn the attention of her father. Tyler continued to follow the truck as it made two right-hand turns onto another farm to market roads before turning left into a subdivision. Approximately a mile down the road, the truck pulled onto a long driveway leading to a large house, and Tyler followed.

As soon as Tyler brought the SSR to a stop beside the truck, Katie jumped out and ran around to greet her father. Tyler was positioned on the passenger side of the fire department pick-up, so he didn't get a glimpse of Katie and her father until he got out and stood so that he could see over the truck bed.

"Daddy, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Tyler Davis. Tyler, this is my dad, James Robert Brandt."

Katie had pulled her father around his truck where they had met up at the rear with Tyler as he was walking towards them. Tyler smiled at Katie's exuberance over seeing her father and reached out to shake the hand he had been offered.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, sir," Tyler said.

"And it's a pleasure to meet you, son. Please call me Bobby. I was just placing more flyers in town for the lawnmower races this weekend. Come on into the house. You can get your bags later."

Katie released her father's hand and replaced it with Tyler's. She let Bobby lead them through the open garage, and then through a door that led to a mudroom, with a spacious kitchen beyond. Katie had only taken a few steps into the kitchen when she dropped Tyler's hand and her face turned bright red.

"Oh God! Excuse me for a minute," Katie said as she dashed into a powder room off the kitchen.

Bobby chuckled and said, "When you gotta go, you've gotta go. Tyler, why don't you wait here for Katie, and then ask her to bring both of you to my study?"

"Of course," Tyler said, trying not to break out in laughter. He knew that Katie's urgent visit to the powder room was not caused by a call of nature, but the result of a sudden orgasm brought on by the Ben Wa balls he had helped her insert this morning before leaving the hotel.

She had told him that she could feel them move slightly as they were driving, but the stimulation was barely noticeable to her. She had seemed disappointed in the effect that the balls were having on her. Tyler surmised that Katie had just discovered that walking with the balls inserted was a completely different sensation for her than sitting still.

He looked around the kitchen and located a roll of paper towels on a stand. He pulled off a few and used them to wipe up the small puddle of Katie's wetness from the spot where she had been standing. He then followed her wet footprints towards the powder room, wiping along the way. He tapped on the door and waited for Katie to reply.

"I took care of the floor out here," Tyler said through the door.

Katie opened the door and looked around to see if her father was still in the kitchen before handing the tissue wrapped Ben Wa balls to Tyler.

"Here, put these in your pocket. Keep those things away from me."

Tyler laughed but kissed Katie as he took the offering and placed it into his front pocket.

"Your dad asked us to join him in his study," Tyler told her.

"Okay, just give me a few more minutes to calm down. Man, that was sudden and intense."

"Exploration and adventure can be that way sometimes," Tyler said. "We'll go whenever you're ready."

"Thanks. Will you please check my dress to see if there are any wet spots I can't see? I think most everything ran straight down my legs, but I'm not confident that some might have hit the fabric."

"It would be my pleasure. Turn slowly for me."

Katie turned slowly as requested so that Tyler could examine the sea-green fabric of her dress for any tale-tell signs of wetness. Seeing none, he stopped her turn as she once more faced him.

"Everything looks fine. Well, actually you in that dress look so much better than fine, but your concerns about spots can be dismissed."

"Thanks, Cutie. Let's go find my dad."

Katie led Tyler through the kitchen, past a formal dining area, and then across a large family room to an open door on the opposite wall. Her father was sitting at one of the two desks in the study, and he looked up as they entered.

"Good, you're here. Tyler, could you step over here and place your right hand onto this scanner?"

Without saying anything in reply, Tyler walked over and placed his hand, palm down onto the surface that Bobby had indicated. A faint white line of light moved across the scanner surface and then went out.

"Okay," Bobby said, "Let's verify that the scan was successful. Could you place the same hand onto that sensor plate over on that desk?"

Once more, Tyler did as Bobby requested without comment or reply. As soon as his palm had touched the surface a panel in one wall of the study slid open to reveal a staircase.

"So, you are assigning us the safe house as our accommodations while we're here?" Katie asked.

"Cile convinced your mom that it was the most practical solution, and I have to agree. Why don't you take Tyler down and show him around? I need to make a few phone calls and your mom should be home shortly."

"Are those the paintings that my mom and sister mentioned?" Tyler asked, pointing at several watercolor paintings on the walls of the study. The focal point in each of them was a bright red Corvair convertible.

"Yes, they are," Katie said. "I'll let my mom give you a tour of them personally. Now, come on, Cutie. Let me show you our rooms."

"Lead the way," Tyler said as Katie pulled him towards the stairs.

"I'm glad that we get to stay down here," Katie said. "We'll have a lot more privacy this way."

"Not a panic room, but an entire safe house is down here?" Tyler asked.

"Four bedrooms with steel reinforced doors, each with its own attached bath, a full kitchen with dining area, a living room a recreation room, and a room that is configured as a communications and command center. We won't go into that one."

"And it's accessed through your dad's study?"

"That's only one of four hidden entrances," Katie said, "but your biometric palm print will work to get you into any of them now. I'll show them to you later."

Katie showed Tyler the general layout of the safe house, taking him around to all four of the bedrooms to see if he agreed with which one they would share. Two of the rooms had king-size beds, and two of them had two sets of twin bunk beds, which eliminated them immediately. Katie suggested that they share the room with a king-size bed that was closest to the recreation room. Once Tyler saw that room, he understood her logic, if that's what you could call it.

In addition to a large billiards table, pinball machines, several video game consoles, and a home theater area, off in one corner of the room stood a pole. The pole had lights directed at it, which if they hadn't made its purpose abundantly clear, Katie's wink and mischievous smile certainly did.

"That's where Cile and I would practice," Katie informed him. "It was originally used by my mom and Aunt Franc, and they may still use it for all I know, but this weekend, it's for your pleasure only."

"As long as it doesn't interfere with me trying out all of those video games over there," Tyler teased.

"You just get a bunch of singles ready, Buster. We'll see what you find entertaining."

"Will you charge for a lap dance too?"

"I haven't charged you for one of those yet, have I? Come on, this talk is going to get me all worked up and we won't have time to satisfy me before my mom gets here."

Katie led Tyler back up the stairs to the study, where two men had joined her father. When she noticed them, Katie walked over and gave each man a warm embrace and introduced them to Tyler.

"Uncle Jason, Joey, I would like for you to meet my boyfriend, Tyler Davis."

Tyler shook her uncle's hand first, followed by her cousin's. The two men had several features in common, including their medium, muscular builds, green eyes, and warm smiles. While her cousin had brown hair, with just a hint of grey starting to appear at the temples, her uncle's head was shaved bald.

"You made quite an impression on my daughter," Jason said with a chuckle.

Katie put her arm around Tyler's waist in a protective display and said, "He's made an even better impression on me, so make certain that Cile knows that."

Jason and Joey both laughed at Katie's statement. Her fondness for Tyler was obvious, but they would still take every opportunity to tease her about it if the chance presented itself.

Bobby checked a message that had just arrived on his cell phone.

"Patty, Franc and Cile are about to pull into the driveway and are asking for some help carrying in groceries..."

"We'll get it," Jason said. "Come on Joey."

"We better go help too," Katie said to Tyler.

"You go help," Bobby said. "I want to have a word in private with Tyler."

Katie stared at her dad for several seconds, trying to tell by his expression what it was that he wanted to say to Tyler. She saw the warm twinkling in his eyes that she had always associated with his love for her, so she kissed Tyler on the cheek and pulled away from him.

"Don't be long. I want you to meet my mom and Aunt Franc."

"We'll be quick," Bobby told her. "Please close the door on the way out."

After Katie did as her father requested, Bobby pointed to a sofa along one wall of the study, "Have a seat."

Tyler took a seat on one end of the sofa and waited for Bobby to join him on the other end.

"Tyler, I don't think I'm unique as a father by wanting my daughter to find herself a man who does more than tell her that he loves her. I want her to find a man who shows her what love is."

Tyler didn't detect a question in Bobby's comments, so he remained silent.

"You see it, don't you?" Bobby asked.

"Sir?"

"With Katie. You see her soul, don't you? I can tell by the way that you look at her."

"I see this glow of energy, or whatever it is, but I never considered it her soul," Tyler said. "Why do you call it that?"

Bobby chuckled, "I'm no philosopher by a long stretch, but after all these years, I have come to the conclusion that the glow, as you call it, is the visible properties of a soul that can be seen only by a select few. JR and I have seen faint signs of it around Katie since she was born. I have seen it around my wife Patty, since right after we met in high school. No one else has ever claimed to be able to see it, so I am convinced that Patty's soul is visible to me because we are, and always have been, soulmates."

"Can Patty see inside your mind sometimes, sort of like ESP?"

"If she can, she hasn't mentioned it to me." Bobby laughed and said, "Which doesn't prove anything, because she would definitely want to keep a talent like that secret from me. Why, is that something that Katie can do with you?"

"Yes, and I think I have sensed every time she has done it," Tyler said. This was not the conversation that he had been preparing himself to have with Katie's father.

"Well, I'm going to pay more attention to Patty to see if I can sense anything like that too," Bobby laughed and Tyler joined him.

"Anyway, Tyler, if the bond between you and Katie is a significant as I think it is, there will come a time, probably in the near future, when you will want to ask for my blessing. I wanted to let you know that you already have it. If Katie is literally baring her soul to you, you are the man I want for my daughter."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Call me Bobby. Now let's go meet Katie's mom. I need to warn you though, she's a lot tougher than I am."

Both men were still laughing as they exited the study and walked towards the kitchen where everyone else had congregated.

As soon as Tyler saw the woman who was talking to Katie, he pulled up short. The tall beautiful woman had long brunette hair pulled back and clasped in a silver barrette at the back of her neck. Tendrils of her hair hung down over her ears on each side, and the freckles across the bridge of her nose contrasted with her tanned skin. Most startling of all was the glow evident around her that was less intense than Katie's, but just as obvious to him. If he wasn't looking at the Shoreline Angel, he was looking at her sister.

"Jesus Christ," Tyler thought, "Or her mother."

Everyone stopped speaking when they realized that Bobby and Tyler had entered the kitchen. Tyler walked directly to Katie and looked her in the eyes.

"Katie, when did you cut your hair?"

There was a gasp from somewhere in the room, but Katie never broke eye contact with Tyler as she answered his question.

"You know when, Tyler."

"What was the date," he asked with more insistence in his tone.

Katie paused a few seconds before answering, "January twenty-third. Do you want to know the time, too?"

Before Tyler could respond, he felt something cold on the back of his neck just as he heard Katie scream, "Joey, no!"

The last thing he saw before collapsing to the floor was Katie moving faster than he could imagine, followed by a man's groans. As he hit the kitchen floor, he watched a small plastic bottle roll past his head and come to a stop against the wall in front of his eyes. Someone must have broken his fall because the descent was slower than he had expected.

"Get me some witch-hazel," Cile yelled, and Tyler heard running footsteps.

"Damn it, Katie, you almost broke my wrist," Joey cried.

"You idiot! If you ever touch Tyler again, I'll break your neck."

Tyler saw Katie's face appear in front of his. Her right cheek laid flat on the tile so that their eyes were directly across from each other.

"I'm sorry, Tyler. My idiot cousin applied a paralytic neurotoxin to your neck. Normally, it would take hours for it to wear off, but I stopped him before he could apply very much of it, and what was applied Cile and I will clean off as best we can. Hopefully, you will see the effects diminish within a few minutes. You won't be able to feel anything or move more than your eyes until then, but I promise that I will be here with you, and no one will do anything more to you. I love you, so hang on."

"I was just implementing the plan we had discussed," Joey was trying to explain. "I thought we had agreed that if he identified Katie, then he had to be dealt with."

"Joey, that plan was discussed weeks ago," Bobby said. "A lot has changed over that time, not the least of which is the bond that has grown between Katie and Tyler. He's not a threat to her, and I believe he would give his life to protect her."

"As I would do to protect him," Tyler heard Katie say from behind him. "So, I'll warn you again, Joey, hands completely off."

Tyler could sense his ability to swallow beginning to return, which he was grateful for because it was accompanied by the feel of spittle beginning to run out of the corner of his mouth. Other senses, feelings and motor control functions quickly followed. He felt strong hands lifting his body and carrying him. He was placed into a sitting position on a couch in the living room, where Katie was immediately sitting beside him, pulling him into her arms.

As she rained kisses all over his face, Tyler looked around the room and saw Joey sitting on a stool in the kitchen, holding an ice pack against his right wrist. His mother was standing beside him with a disapproving look on her face. Cile, Bobby, and Patty were all standing, watching Katie and Tyler, with smiles on their faces. Jason was just coming in from the garage, slipping rubber gloves on as he approached the plastic bottle that remained on the kitchen floor.

Tyler decided to try speaking. To Katie, he said, "You have always been my Angel, and you always will be."

Cile walked behind the couch to stand behind where Katie sat. Tyler couldn't help but laugh when he heard Cile whisper in Katie's ear, "The next time you want to launch a roundhouse kick while wearing a dress, maybe you should put some underwear on first."

Chapter Fifteen

"Does she sleep with you"? Tyler asked.

"No. In fact, she seldom likes to be in the house at all. She has a bed in the garage that she usually prefers, but since she hasn't seen me for so long, this is an exception."

Tyler had to admit, even as much as he liked dogs already, this little girl had won his heart immediately. According to Katie, she was a mix between a Cirneco del Etna and a Boxer that Katie had rescued from the shelter in Orange County where she volunteered and then brought her home here to live.

"June Bug" as she had been named, was the sweetest dog that Tyler could ever remember meeting. She was medium size, with several of the common Boxer traits, such as an underbite, a squared-off jaw, and a broad chest. Her Mediterranean traits were also obvious, including super-sensitive hearing from large pointed ears, a slim athletic physique, uncanny speed, and the most human-like hazel eyes that Tyler had ever seen on any animal.

June Bug had followed Jason in from the garage and run immediately to the couch where Tyler was still being affectionately attended to by Katie. The dog had stood before him, making strange, throaty sounds, almost like she was trying to talk to him until Katie had introduced the two of them. June Bug had immediately jumped onto Tyler's lap, licked his face several times, and then laid down on his lap.

"I think her Cirneco del Etna traits are dominant," Katie said as she petted the dog laying straddled between their two laps.

"The breed was raised for rabbit hunting on Sicily, which is where the name comes from. Here, let me show you a picture of a purebred one."

Katie grabbed her cell phone and quickly found an image to show Tyler.

"That looks like... what were they called, a Pharaoh Dog?"

"Right," Katie said. "Some experts think that the Cirneco del Etna was the breed depicted in many of the hieroglyphics on the walls of the Pyramids and tombs in Egypt."

"You can definitely see the similarities," Tyler said.

"I know. June Bug loves nothing more than to run, and boy is she fast. When she gets going, you aren't going to catch her until she gets tired or bored. No rodent stands a chance if they get onto our property."

"I'm glad you found her. This seems like the perfect place for her."

"It is. I considered keeping her with me in the condo, but she would dart through the door every time it was opened, and her stubborn refusal to stop running before she was ready made me fear that she would get hit by a car. Here, there is plenty of room for her to run, and the fences keep her safe. Plus, my parents missed having a dog since Spenser had passed. They adore her."

Tyler was enjoying the presence of this dog, and while he wouldn't typically encourage having a dog on the furniture, his recovery from the neurotoxin limited his ability to do much else than pet the dog at the moment, so why not enjoy it.

"I am so sorry about what Joey did," Katie said for about the twelfth time. "Are you getting more feeling back?"

"I'm fine. I should be as good as new by this evening. It actually was an interesting experience, kind of like when I had to take a Taser hit so that I understood what the effects were if I ever had to use one on somebody. These effects are a bit longer lasting, and that stuff that Joey used seems a lot more effective for putting someone down."

"As far as I know, it has never been approved for use by local law enforcement agencies," Katie said. "A select few federal agencies have access to it, every special forces unit within our military has access to it, and it is an ingredient in some surgical anesthetics, but that's about the extent of its use right now."

"How did you and Cile know how to minimize its effect on me? What was it you used to clean it off my neck, witch hazel?"

"We have grown up around the stuff. My dad invented it while at the Air Force Academy and owns the patent on it. Yes, we used witch hazel to open up the pores on the skin where it was applied so that basic soap and water could then be used to wash as much of it off your skin as possible before it was absorbed."

"Feeling better?" Patty asked as she and Bobby came back into the living room. They had been saying goodbye to Katie's aunt, uncle, and cousins, who were returning to their home a few miles away.

Tyler laughed, "Having feeling is better."

"Good. Scoot over," Patty said.

Katie smiled at her mom, took the dog from Tyler's lap, and shifted over on the couch so that Tyler could do the same to make room for Patty to sit on his other side.

Bobby just chuckled and retreated to his study as Patty sat down, surprised Tyler with a kiss on his cheek, and then took his hand to hold on her lap.

"Tyler, I have known all along how Katie feels about you, and the risk she took by allowing you into her life. Bobby has shared the discussion that he had with you, so now I know that Katie was never in any risk at all where you are concerned. You both have our full support and blessing."

"Oh, Mom," Katie said as she reached across to place her hand on her mom's, which were still holding Tyler's. "You and Dad set a high standard. I know that Tyler and I can reach it together."

"I know you can too. So, let's discuss a few plans for this weekend."

"Okay," Katie said, "What's on the agenda?"

"There's not a lot set in stone, but once JR and Rockie get here and have a chance to rest, your father and Jason will want to bring everyone up-to-date on your situation and get Tyler involved in the strategy to keep your identity hidden. That will probably happen tomorrow afternoon."

Katie glanced at Tyler, who said, "I'm good with that. The sooner we get a workable plan together, the happier I'll be."

Patty laughed, "Those are almost the exact words that Bobby said you would say. Anyway, Cile mentioned that you three were thinking of having dinner at Rick's tomorrow night. Is that still on your calendar?"

"I'll discuss it with Cile, but I'm inclined to say no," Katie said.

"Alright, just keep me posted. Rockie had mentioned that she would like to make tacos with you and Cile for dinner one day this weekend, so if you don't do Rick's tomorrow, that might be the day for tacos, and we'll need to get everything in advance."

"Plan on tacos tomorrow," Katie said. "I know that Cile would prefer doing that over going to Rick's. Tyler makes the world's best Margaritas, so he can be in charge of those."

"I was a bartender in college," Tyler explained, "so don't let Katie's singular focus on my Margaritas limit anyone's drink choices. Appletinis to Zombies; I can make them all."

"You are going to be a very popular addition to our family," Patty said, squeezing Tyler's hand.

Katie laughed and said, "My guy is going to be loved for much more than his bartending skills."

"He already is," said Patty. "You should make a point to get by Rick's some time while you're here to check on your display. The truck has taken the spot of JR's car and I placed your Corvette next to it. Feel free to reposition them if you want."

"Your Corvette?" Tyler asked. "The one that you generously helped me identify the model of?"

"The same," Katie said. "It's been hiding here in plain sight. I'll let you drive it if you want."

"On the subject of JR's car, if Tyler is feeling up to riding in a car, would you two mind driving my car to pick up JR, Rockie and the twins so that I can drive his car? That way I could ride back with you and they could all ride back in his Corvair. They're scheduled to land in about an hour."

"As long as I don't have to do any of the driving, I'm good to go," Tyler said.

"Excellent," Patty said. "We will need to leave shortly, so let me go tell Bobby the plan. Oh, by the way, Tyler, do you like tuna casserole?"

Tyler nodded, "I love your tuna casserole, and as promised, I want to thank you for sharing the recipe with Katie."

Patty kissed Tyler on the cheek again and said, "You really are quite the catch. I'll be back in a few minutes. Katie, why don't you put Buggy outside and meet me in the garage?"

Patty released Tyler's hand, stood and walked into the study. Katie set the dog down on the floor and then stood.

"Do you need help getting up?" she asked Tyler.

"What say we find out," he replied as he tested his muscular control. He rose unassisted from the couch and stood, checking his balance for a few seconds before turning and embracing Katie.

"Looks like I'm good to go."

Katie glanced over Tyler's shoulder towards the door to the study to see if the coast was clear before placing her hand on the front of Tyler's jeans and gently squeezing.

"I need to perform a good examination of this particular muscle later, so please focus on its recovery."

Tyler gently tweaked the nipple on Katie's left breast through her dress and said, "I'm way ahead of you there, Sweetie."

~~~

"I was returning from attending church and having lunch with my grandparents," Katie explained without being asked. "I decided to stop by the mall to pick up a present for Cile's birthday, which was a little over a month away."

Tyler sat silently as Katie drove, following the red Corvair convertible being driven by her mother over the same roads that he had driven them on the way to the house. He knew that Katie had a need to explain things to him, and he didn't want to deny her the opportunity.

"I spent a lot more time in the jewelry store than I had expected," Katie continued. "The clerk was helpful, but trying to get friendlier than necessary, so I finally got her to finish the transaction without even allowing her to put the necklace into a bag. Walking through the food court towards the exit, someone stepped on one of those plastic-wrapped condiment packages that had been dropped onto the floor. What turned out to be Soy Sauce shot out of the package just as I was passing. I felt some of it hit my right ankle and the top of my foot, so I decided to detour into the bathroom to wipe it off so that it wouldn't be tracked into my car."

"Well, that explains the purpose of the bathroom visit," Tyler silently thought.

"What the video showed is pretty much everything that happened after I came out of the bathroom. Even with my Polarized sunglasses on, I wasn't confident of a clean headshot because any misses would have gone into the nail salon through the windows. I chose the groin area because the way the gunman was standing provided me a full-frontal targeting perspective, and it was not protected by his body armor."

"Where did you learn to shoot so well?" Tyler asked.

Katie smiled and said, "My initial inspiration and training came from a former Olympic silver medal winner in the twenty-five-meter pistol event. She and her husband are business associates of my dad's. You may meet them this weekend. Anyway, once she had me hooked on pistol shooting, and trained well enough to compete, I started entering Civilian Marksmanship Program competitions. I got bored simply shooting at stationary targets, so my dad arranged for me to practice at local tactical ranges."

"Is there a 'Hogan's Alley' near her?" Tyler asked.

"Yes, but they're not very realistic. Fortunately, my dad could get me access to more advanced tactical ranges at places like the FBI Academy in Quantico and of course the multiple ranges in Glynco."

Tyler laughed, "So your knowledge of FLETC goes beyond family discussion over dinner."

"Oh yeah," Katie laughed in return. "If you ever go there again, you should check the range record-holders board. See if you recognize anyone you know."

"I'll be sure to do that. Okay, so you were saying before I interrupted you..."

"Right," Katie said, returning to her explanation of the shooting and its aftermath. "Once I was sure that the gunman was really down, I wanted to disarm him completely. I was concerned initially about leaving his weapons on the floor, worried that some civilian might pick one up and accidentally discharge it before the police arrived. I considered taking them with me, but I needed to clear the scene and avoid showing my face to the security cameras. Plus, I knew that the weapons would be crucial to investigating who this guy was and why he had tried to shoot up the mall. Once I was certain that the situation was safe, I exited the mall. I had been fortunate to get a parking space relatively close to the entrance, so it took only seconds for me to be driving away. I was somewhat surprised at how fast the first police officers started arriving. Three of their cars passed me as I was leaving the mall."

"And none of them noticed you," Tyler said.

"Apparently not. As soon as I was out of the mall parking lot, I called my brother JR. Looking back, he probably shouldn't have been my first call, but you would have to understand the bond that JR and I have to recognize my need to let him know of my situation before anyone else. Of course, there wasn't anything that JR could do other than try to advise me, but my sister-in-law, Rockie was another matter. She is the one who immediately began the steps to wipe all but the two videos from the mall servers and place the ransomware that hid her actions."

"Where are we going?" Tyler asked. "The maps of San Antonio that I reviewed for this trip showed the airport being north of the city."

Katie hadn't been paying that much attention to their route since all she had to do was keep the Corvair in sight. It took her a second or two to orient herself to their surroundings.

"It looks like we're headed to Randolph Air Force Base," Katie said, pointing to a prominent water tower on the top of a building off to the right.

"Your brother is flying into an active Air Force Base from Australia?"

"So it would appear."

Katie followed the Corvair to the entrance gate, where her mom had a short conversation with the guard and showed him her identification. She pointed to the vehicle behind hers as the guard saluted her, before pressing a button to open the gate for both cars to enter the base.

Sunset was approaching, but in the remaining daylight, Tyler took in the sights as they navigated through the expansive military installation. Randolph Air Force Base was known as "the Showplace of the Air Force" because of the Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture in which all structures including hangars were constructed.

"My mom and her parents were living here when JR was born," Katie said, "but this is my first time here. I think this is mostly a training base or something like that."

The Corvair had driven beside a hangar that sat approximately fifty yards from one of the runways. Katie pulled her mom's car behind the Corvair and shut off the engine.

"Let's go wait with my mom," Katie suggested.

The first thing that Katie and Tyler noticed upon exiting her mother's car, was how relatively quiet it was where they stood. They could see flights of small trainer aircraft taking off and landing on a far runway, but the sound of these, and other aircraft seemed somehow muted by the surrounding buildings.

Tyler took Katie's hand as they walked up to the driver's side of the Corvair, where Patty sat, checking something on her cell phone. She looked up at the couple beside the car.

"Their plane is on final approach," Patty informed them, pointing to a pinpoint of light off in the horizon that was gradually growing larger and brighter.

Tyler opened the door so that Patty could stand beside the car with them to watch the approaching plane land. As the plane grew closer and lower to the ground, Tyler recognized it as a large military transport aircraft, probably a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. All other flight activity on the parallel runways had ceased as the landing of the large plane became imminent.

The large aircraft touched down just past the lettering indicating the 15L runway. Though designed with the capability to take off and land on runways just over three thousand feet in length, it appeared that the pilot of this aircraft was content to use all eight-thousand plus feet of concrete runway available at Randolph as the aircraft slowly decelerated.

Tyler watched as the plane went past their location, and decided that it was, in fact, a Boeing C-17. The only thing unique about this plane from the other C-17's he had seen, was the national markings. This plane belonged to the Royal Australian Air Force.

"Geez," he wondered, "How may in-flight fuelings had this trip taken?"

Katie released Tyler's hand so that she could join her mom in covering both of her ears as the noise from the taxiing aircraft grew closer. Tyler followed suit but kept watching the movement of the plane as the pilot expertly followed the ground crew's instructions on where to position the plane before finally shutting down the engines. The three of them had a clear view of the rear of the plane, sitting on the tarmac less than fifty-yards from them.

It took several minutes for the ground crew to chock the tires and secure the plane to tie-downs on the tarmac. The large ramp at the rear of the plane began lowering slowly, and as the interior of the plane became more visible, they could see approximately two dozen people dressed in military uniforms positioned to march down the ramp. Behind the military personnel, there was a large object secured in the cargo area.

Once it was fully visible, the object was easy to identify as a single-wide mobile home. The door to the mobile home opened, and a man walked out, followed by the first one, and then a second child, and finally a woman. The man and woman were speaking to the children, but Tyler, Katie, and Patty couldn't hear what was being said at this distance. The man pointed to the group around the Corvair, and the two children were allowed to run down the remainder of the ramp, straight to Patty and Katie's arms.

Tyler hadn't heard the approach of another vehicle, but he did take notice of the man who was approaching the Corvair. He stepped in front of the man to block his path.

"May I help you?" Tyler asked?

Holding up a badge and credential wallet, the man said, "I'm Mike Render with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I've been sent over from San Antonio International Airport. I just need to process the arriving passengers. You know, stamp their passports and so on."

"Sure," Tyler said. "If you'll wait right here, I'll let them know to come to see you."

Katie and Patty were exchanging the child each held. Katie was sending the boy that had run to her over to Patty, and Patty was sending the girl over to Katie. Since the two women were busy with the children, the man, who looked strikingly like a younger version of Bobby approached Tyler and swept him into a friendly embrace.

"You must be Tyler. I'm Katie's brother JR, and this is my wife Rockie. Welcome to the family."

JR had no sooner released Tyler from his embrace before Rockie took his place.

"We're all so glad to finally meet you," she said.

"What was it with women in Texas?" Tyler thought. Rockie was one of the most stunningly beautiful women that Tyler had ever seen, and that was saying a lot after meeting Cile, her mom Franc, and Patty. Katie outshined them all, but Tyler doubted that many other women stood a chance.

"I'm honored and pleased to meet all of you," Tyler said as Rockie released her embrace. She was soon replaced by the two children coming over and each hugging one side of Tyler.

"Hello Mr. Davis," said the boy. "I'm Jimmy.

"And I'm Jamie," said the girl.

Tyler laughed and knelt to hug one child in each of his arms, "I am very happy to meet you both."

As Tyler rose, each child took one of his hands and didn't seem inclined to release them any time soon.

"There is a gentleman over there who needs to process you for immigration. I would be more than happy to keep Jimmy and Jamie company while you two handle that."

"Thanks, Tyler," said JR. "This should only take a second, and then we can be on our way."

Two of the aircraft's ground crew were approaching with what was the family's luggage. Katie directed them to the back of her mom's SUV, where they made quick work of efficiently stowing everything. Katie then came over and stood in front of Tyler, who was still sandwiched between the twins.

"Do all children gravitate towards you like these two have," Katie asked.

"Children, small animals, singing birds, and butterflies all seem to like me," Tyler joked. "I'm kind of like a big ugly version of Snow White."

Patty had heard the exchange and bust out laughing. Katie just grinned before planting a kiss on Tyler's lips.

JR and Rockie soon rejoined them. Patty was the first to embrace JR so Katie hugged Rockie.

"I've missed you guys so much," Katie told her sister-in-law. "How long are you going to be able to stay?"

"I'll let JR discuss that with you," Rockie said as she traded places with her husband.

JR's embrace lifted Katie off her feet, "Hello Katie-kins. Staying out of trouble?"

Katie was planting kisses all over her older brother's face, ignoring his question. She finally released him and moved back to stand with Tyler.

"I saw that you already met Tyler," Katie said. "He's all the trouble I'm ever going to need."

Everyone laughed, and then Patty said, "Dinner's waiting at home, so we better get to it. Here's the key JR. Try to stay on the correct side of the road on the way home."

"What fun is that?" Rockie said. "Come on Jimmy, Jamie. Let's get your seatbelts on."

The two children obediently disentangled themselves from around Tyler's legs and followed their mother to the Corvair, where she opened the passenger door, and pulled the seatback forward to allow first Jamie and then Jimmy to climb into the back seat. Each child made quick work of locating the ends of their respective seatbelts and fastening them without assistance.

Rockie climbed into the front passenger seat and allowed JR to bend down and kiss her before closing her door.

JR headed around the car to the driver's side yelling over his shoulder, "We'll see you at the house."

"Drive safe," Patty said. She walked to the rear passenger door of her SUV.

"You don't want to drive, Mom?" Katie asked as she and Tyler reached the SUV.

"No, you can drive. That way you and Tyler can sit together."

"How about if I sit in back, behind Katie so I can blow in her ear all the way home?" Tyler asked.

"Nope, I'll sit behind you," said Patty, "and maybe I'll blow in your ear all the way home."

"Mom!"

Tyler and Patty were both laughing as he opened the door for Patty to climb into the back seat. He then walked around and opened Katie's door for her, receiving a quick kiss before she climbed in. She had the car started and in gear by the time that Tyler climbed into his seat and fastened his seatbelt.

~~~

Tyler read the multiple e-mails from Alfaro and chuckled. The AG had worked himself into quite a lather over the last few days when he hadn't received a response from Tyler. What part of 'vacation' did this despotic moron not understand?

After helping JR get his family's luggage into the house, Tyler had retrieved his and Katie's from the back of the SSR, located the biometric reader in the garage without Katie's assistance, and used it to open the access panel for the safe house downstairs. This staircase was significantly wider than the one from the study and deposited him in a hallway close to the bedroom that Katie had selected for them.

Katie had offered him the opportunity to hang out downstairs until dinner was ready since he might feel left out as the rest of the family got reacquainted and helped get the twins settled. Tyler had used the time to unpack his bag, set Katie's on the bed, and find a work surface to set up his laptop to check his e-mail.

Besides the work e-mails from Alfaro, there had been one from Claire, assuring him that her own State employee e-mail account, as well as her cell phone number, would remain the same in her new position, in case he ever needed to contact her. She also shared with him the same gossip about Alfaro's blood as Dennis had shared previously. Apparently, Claire had just heard about it.

There were two personal e-mails from Dennis; the first of which informed Tyler that Alfaro had not taken Dennis' resignation well, initially threatening him with a bad reference, and then offering him a promotion and pay raise if he stayed with the Department, which of course, Dennis refused. The opportunity that Tyler had to leverage Alfaro's desperation was made abundantly clear by Dennis, but Tyler knew that he couldn't take advantage of it.

Tyler called up the video from the Shoreline Mall shooting and watched it once more, this time with the knowledge that it was his own Katie that he was watching. His heart swelled with pride as he watched her confidence and skill. He had never been happier about any aspect of a case than he was learning that Katie was his mystery woman. There was no way that he would ever let her identity be known if he could prevent it, and he was already exploring his options to do just that.

"Would you like to go for a swim after dinner?"

Tyler hadn't heard Katie come in. In addition to the radiant glow that Tyler was now almost always seeing around her, there was a rosy glow to her skin from laughing with her family.

"Sure, if that's what you want to do. The neurotoxin effects seem to be all gone, so I don't feel at risk of drowning or anything."

"We can access the pool house through a stairway in the recreation room," Katie explained. "Let's see how we feel after dinner. I really enjoyed the feel of your wet body next to mine yesterday, but we have other options besides swimming that would allow me to experience that feeling again tonight. There is a Jacuzzi tub in the other master bathroom, and of course the double shower in our own master bathroom."

"Seems like either of those options provide a singular benefit over the swimming pool," Tyler said.

Katie snuggled against him and said, "I like the way you think, Mr. Davis. Come on up. Dinner is almost ready and the rest of the family just arrived."

Tyler locked his laptop, took Katie's hand and followed her up the stairway that led to the study. Upon entering the kitchen, they saw Jimmy and Jamie sitting on stools at the counter, along with another boy that appeared to be of the same approximate age as the twins. The three children were just starting on their dinners.

"We tried to get them to sleep on a Texas schedule during the flight," Rockie explained as she handed cups of juice to each of her children. "As a result, they slept through some normal meal periods and claim to be 'dying of hunger'."

"This towhead is Joey junior," Katie said as she kissed the little boy's cheek when they passed him.

"So much drama from such little cuties," said Cile. "Come on Tyler, you're sitting next to me."

"Excuse me?" said Katie, keeping a hold on one of Tyler's hands as Cile began pulling on the other.

"Don't worry," Cile teased her cousin, "you're on his other side. I had to fight Rockie to save the spot for you, but you were the first to share Tyler with me..."

Tyler was laughing at the two cousins, remembering how much he had enjoyed his time alone with just the two of them weeks ago. He thought that one of the things that he loved most about Katie, was the closeness that she had with so many members of her family that allowed for the degree of teasing and playful bickering he had witnessed so far. He had that with Taylor, but not with his parents or others in his extended family.

Katie and Cile led Tyler to a large dining room with a table that would easily accommodate sixteen people. The table held; Bobby, Patty, Jason, Franc, an empty seat for Rockie, JR, Joey, some woman that Tyler hadn't met, and three place settings for him, Katie and Cile. Cile placed Tyler between her and Katie. Tyler held the chairs out for each lady as they sat, before taking his seat between them.

"Tyler," Joey said, "I would like to introduce my wife, Jennifer. Jen, this is Katie's boyfriend Tyler."

"I'm very pleased to meet you Tyler," Jen said. "I have heard so many wonderful things about you from Cile."

"It's nice to meet you too, Jen. Okay, now I need to ask; what is it with all the beautiful women here in Texas? Is there something in the water, or what?"

Bobby answered, "While I'm sure the great State of Texas would love to claim responsibility for all these beautiful ladies, the fact of the matter is that, except for the lovely Jen, all the others have their origins in California. Patty, Franc, and Rockie were all born in California. Cile and Katie, and don't let me forget that adorable little lady in the kitchen, Jamie are the byproducts of women born in California."

"Actually," Jen said, "I was born in California too. We moved here when I was four."

Patty and Franc were laughing as they began serving food to Bobby and Jason respectively. Katie and Cile both tried to get utensils into the same dish at the same time, and the resulting "clank" brought roars of laughter from everyone at the table.

"How about if I serve myself?" Tyler asked.

"That's okay," said Katie. "I'll take care of it. Won't I Cile?"

Cile threw up both of her hands and stuck her tongue out at her cousin, which resulted in another round of laughter from everyone at the table. Tyler saw Bobby wink at him from across the table and smiled in return.

As everyone had their plates full and began to eat, Bobby shared an event from earlier in the week that he had been saving until his son had arrived.

"The County Commissioners asked me to attend a hearing where they were going to decide on a development request for old Quinten Kielbasa's land," Bobby explained. "Seems that Quinten finally decided to sell his five-hundred acres off Hghway 181 to a development company, but he insisted on being allowed to name all the streets in the planned subdivision."

"That's a great piece of land for raising cattle," JR said. "The San Antonio River runs right through a large portion of it."

Bobby nodded and continued, "The development company believes it will also be a prime housing development. Anyway, the County Commissioners had no issues with granting the development, but they were concerned that the street names that Quinten wanted might confuse emergency responders."

"How so?" asked Jason.

"If you knew old Quinten," Bobby said, "You would understand his sense of humor. Let's start with the name he wanted for the entrance to the development off of 181. At the point of the entrance, the median across the highway isn't broken. That means that anyone traveling north on the highway would have to drive past the entrance about a quarter-mile before a break in the median allowed then to make a U-turn and head back south on the highway. Consequently, the only way to enter the development is by making a right turn into it. A right turn onto a street that Quinten wants to be named "Slight Left".

Everybody at the table laughed, and Patty said, "Oh, that could be confusing. What are some of the other names he wants?"

Bobby continued, "There are dozens of streets planned, but some of the other names that Quinten wants include; 'Thisa Way', 'Thata Way', 'Whicha way', 'Any Way', 'Around the Bend', and my personal favorite, 'Weiner Cutoff'."

After the laughter receded, Franc asked, "So what did the Commissioners decide?"

"After I assured them that the street names would soon become familiar to all the emergency responders in the county, so they should pose no problem, the Commissioners agreed to the names that Quinten wants and the project was approved."

"JR, how long are you guys going to be able to stay over this time?" Katie asked.

Tyler saw JR and Katie's mom share a look before he answered his sister's question.

"We'll only be staying here until Saturday."

"Wow," Bobby said. "That's a long way to drag the family for such a short stay. Don't get me wrong, I treasure every minute that my son and his family can spend with us, but why so short?"

"I think JR needs to clarify what 'here' means," Rockie said with a grin.

JR put his arm around Rockie's shoulder and announced, "Rockie's right. 'Here' in this case means this house. Joey, have you and Jen noticed anything going on with the Hilliard property next to yours?"

"Yeah," Joey said. "Apparently the Hilliards sold all fifty acres. We're hoping that it wasn't to a developer who would subdivide it and sell off the lots for a bunch of new homes to be built. We're not sure though, because someone just placed one of those rented mobile homes on the land and are having all the utilities run to it."

"Rest assured," JR said, "there will be only one house built on that property. Our house. We'll be moving into the rental trailer that Mom arranged for us on Saturday. We'll live in it while the house is built. We'll be meeting the architect and contractor there tomorrow morning if anyone would like to tag along."

"You're moving back?" Katie squealed.

"Not just moving back," Rockie said. "We're moving back permanently. JR has resigned from DARPA, and while I'm trying to talk him into retiring, he has his heart set on taking over Dr. Hill's veterinary practice."

Bobby was just staring at his wife, who was purposely avoiding eye contact with him, trying to keep from laughing.

"Gotcha," Patty said.

"Nice one, Mom," Katie said. "How's it feel, Dad?"

Bobby scooting his chair back from the table was a signal that everyone in the family recognized, especially his wife. Patty immediately moved into her husband's lap and threw her arms around his neck.

The couple had never been modest or shy about expressing their love for each other in front of other people, and they still displayed the same degree of passion for each other by wantonly making out in their dining room in front of their guests.

"Well, on that cue, I think we should clear the dishes in case the surface of the table is needed for something other than dinner," Cile said.

Everyone except the two lovers laughed and began shuttling dirty dishes and left-overs into the kitchen.

"If you'll excuse us," Katie said to the other women in the kitchen, "I want to show Tyler the pool before it gets any later. Do you all mind?"

"If you let me borrow one of your bikinis, I'll join you two," Cile said with a grin at Tyler.

Laughing, Katie checked to verify that the three children were focused on their ice cream before she made a very unladylike gesture involving a single finger. Grabbing Tyler's hand, she rushed him out of the kitchen and back to the study.

"We won't stay in the water long," Katie said as they descended the stairs. "I just want to feel your cool, wet skin against mine for a few minutes. Then, I want to feel your hot, sweaty skin against mine for hours. Sound okay?"

"Your plans haven't disappointed me so far," Tyler said as he pulled his shirt over his head.

"And I will do my best to make certain that they never do," Katie replied as her dress fell to the floor of their bedroom, leaving her naked.

Katie hurriedly unpacked her duffel bag as Tyler finished undressing and putting on his swim trunks. She chose a hot pink bikini that looked good enough to eat. It held the promise of sweetness, while Katie's body held the promise of everything else a man could desire.

"We probably don't need anything on our feet, but bring your sandals just in case," Katie instructed.

Tyler held his sandals in one hand as Katie took his other and led him to the recreation room. She set her sandals down so she could use that hand on the biometric reader and open the access door that led to the pool house.

As soon as they had left the pool house and stepped onto the concrete decking around the pool, they both heard it.

"Ahhrooorah, Ahhrooorah, Ahhrooorah"

"What is that?" Tyler asked, looking out into the darkness. "It sounds like one of those sirens on German police cars, only natural in origin rather than electronic."

"That's June Bug," Katie said. "She needs our help."

Tyler slipped his sandals on as Katie did the same. "Do you have your cell phone?" she asked.

"No," Tyler answered. "Why?"

"Follow me then. We can get a flashlight in the stable when I get a shovel."

Katie opened a gate and Tyler followed her, jogging into the darkness toward the shadowy shape of the stables about a hundred yards away. June Bug's sound continued but didn't seem to be getting louder as they got closer to the building, so Tyler assumed that she wasn't in it.

Tyler depended upon Katie's familiarity with the layout of the stables as she opened the door to the darkness inside and led him towards the back wall. Here, she turned on a light and quickly located a flashlight in a holder mounted to the wall.

"You hold this," she said, handing the flashlight to Tyler. "I'll carry the shovel."

"Why do you need a shovel?"

"Because I didn't bring a gun, Come on."

Katie left the light on in the stables, and the door open as she jogged once more into the darkness. This time, Tyler could tell that they were getting closer to June Bug's location because her cries grew steadily louder as they approached the shadowy figure of a large tree.

Katie stopped about ten feet from where Tyler could now see June Bug darting around and around the base of the tree. She would pause occasionally to lunge at something under the tree, and then quickly dart back away from whatever it was.

"Shine the flashlight at the base of that tree," Katie instructed when June Bug stopped her cries.

Tyler did as requested, but asked, "What am I looking for?"

"A Copperhead. That's June Bug's 'I cornered a snake' cry. It's very distinctive from her other barks. She won't try to kill it herself because I think she senses that it's poisonous, so she just tries to keep it cornered until someone can come out and kill it for her."

As he shined the light around the base of the tree, Tyler asked, "Don't tell me that you're going to try and kill a poisonous snake with a shovel, wearing nothing but a bikini and sandals?"

"The bikini part is novel, but I've used the shovel wearing just sandals dozens of times. Stop! There it is. He's a big one!"

Tyler paused his movement of the flashlight, but still didn't see anything on the ground. It wasn't until Katie quickly stepped in and drove the head of the shovel into the sandy soil at the base of the tree that he was able to discern the now obvious shape of a writhing snake body. Katie raised the shovel and drove it down again in the same location. This time, Tyler saw the decapitated head of the snake bounce a few inches away from its body.

"Okay," Katie said, "now all we need to do is bury everything and then we can get back to our swim."

Tyler walked up to stand next to Katie, shining the flashlight onto the body of the snake. If it hadn't still been undulating there among the leaves, Tyler would not have been able to distinguish it at all.

"They blend in pretty good amongst the leaves," said Tyler.

"That's why they tend to hide at the base of trees, fallen logs and such," explained Katie. "Many unsuspecting squirrels and chipmunks have met their ends trying to scurry up a tree with a Copperhead at its base. Do you want to do the honors?"

Tyler traded her the flashlight for the shovel. "Sure. Where and how deep?"

"Anywhere is fine, and it only has to be deep enough to cover it. June Bug won't dig it up, so as long as the carrion birds can't smell it, it will decompose on its own in a few months."

Tyler dug two full shovel loads of sandy soil without much effort. Katie then instructed him to use the shovel to pick up the head of the snake and place it into the hole. He then did the same with the body, which he guessed was close to three feet in length. He shoveled the soil back into the hole, covering the snake completely, and then Katie led them both back to the stables, with June Bug on their heels.

Chapter Sixteen

"Correct me if I'm wrong," said Tyler, "but isn't Katie's risk pretty much isolated to California? If she no longer lived there, the chance of her ever being identified as the Shoreline Angel would be effectively eliminated, wouldn't it?"

The assembled group, which consisted of Tyler, Katie, Bobby, Patty, JR, Rockie, Jason, Franc, Cile and Joey, all sat around the large conference table in the communications room located in the safe house downstairs. While the assembled adults ate Danish and fruit for breakfast downstairs, Jen was watching the children as they ate their breakfast upstairs.

"That might be the case," Katie said, "But even if we lived someplace else, we would still need to go back to California on occasion. Your parents and Taylor will still be there, as will my grandparents if nothing else."

Katie's use of the pronoun "we" wasn't lost on anyone at the table, but it was Tyler's smile she saw and who she most appreciated for the recognition of her choice of words.

"I tend to agree with Katie," Patty said. "All relocating will do is make identifying Katie harder; it won't make the objective of finding her go away. While a possible short-term solution, I think we need to find something permanent to address the quest to identify her."

"What about finding a substitute?" Rockie asked. "I could create a fake identity, complete with pictures that are altered to look enough like the images of Katie in the video to fool anyone. Then this substitute, fake woman could die in an accident or something, the result of which is that her role in the mall shooting finally comes to light. The media will buy it, which means the politicians would have to follow suit or look like idiots."

"Why don't you put something together for us detailing the identity you would create," Bobby said. "We can all review it for authenticity and believability. It could work if we get the details right."

"I'm going to have to cut out," Joey said. "Jen is donating blood today and needs me to be her driver."

"I'll come up in a minute to watch the kids so you too can leave," Franc said. "I'm proud of her. Remember before Joey junior was born, how deathly afraid of needles Jen was? Now she willingly faces needles in order to donate blood."

As Joey walked out of the door, Tyler yelled after him, "Ask her to share with Alfaro how she overcame her fear."

He related the rumor about the Attorney General of California is so afraid of needles that he wouldn't even donate blood that might save his own life.

"Why does he need a store of his own blood?" asked Cile. "What's his blood type?"

"Have you ever heard of Bombay Blood?"

"Of course," Franc, Cile, Katie, and JR responded in unison.

"Rumor has it that Alfaro has that blood type. I understand that means he cannot accept any other blood type in a transfusion."

"Hh blood type is rare," said JR, but there is a fifty-fifty chance that one of his parents or another close relative has the same blood type."

"Nope," said Tyler. "Alfaro's parents both have blood type Aa. They were the first ones his protective detail checked with.

"Impossible!" said Franc, Cile, Katie, and JR, once more in unison.

"Why?" asked Patty, Bobby, and Rockie, also in unison.

Franc tried to explain for the others, "It's called blood type Hh, but the fact is, it doesn't have any H antigens in it. To understand the Bombay blood type, you need to understand the details of blood grouping. When we say someone has blood type A, it means that the person has an antigen of type 'A' and antibody of type 'B' in their blood. People with AB have both antigen A and B in their blood and no antibodies. People with O blood type have only antibodies A and B and no antigens. However, what is not generally known is that all these groups have an antigen H in the blood as well. People with the Bombay blood type do not have this antigen H in their blood. Instead, they have antibody H, so because of this, no other blood can be given to them. Parents pass either their antigen type or their antibody type, so it would be impossible for Mr. Alfaro's birth parents to both be type Aa and for him not to have an H antigen transferred to him."

"Jason, what do we know about Alfaro's parents?", asked Bobby.

Jason opened a file on his cell phone and reviewed it before answering, "Tito and Maria Alfaro. Immigrated illegally to California from Guaymas, in the Mexican state of Sonora in 2009 when Julio Cortez-Alfaro was sixteen years old. Tito worked in a fish cannery until Immigration arrested him and Maria in 2011. Obama's administration provided him and Maria deferred action on their illegal status due to Julio being a minor in school. Both Tito and Maria now work for an immigrant rights organization in San Jose, California."

"If they are not the birth parents of Julio, do we know if he was adopted by them?" Bobby asked.

"No, but we could probably find out relatively easily," Jason said. "What are you thinking?"

"If these are not his birth parents, and they did not adopt him, then they did not have legal custody of Julio when they brought him to this country illegally. If Julio used a fraudulent relationship to obtain 'Dreamer' status, then he committed immigration fraud. We might finally have something to use against the guy to get him off the Shoreline Angel case. Drop it, or get deported."

"You might want to try and get DNA samples from Alfaro as well as his parents," said Franc. "While the rarity of the Bombay blood type and the fact that the people on record as his parents could not have produced that blood type in a child is obvious to anyone who has studied biology, the fact that their DNA doesn't match would carry more legal weight if needed."

"I'll get a team working on that right away," Jason said. "We have some very efficient trash diggers on the team."

"Okay," Bobby said, "we have more options in dealing with the investigation into Katie than before, which is good. Let's give it a day or two to see what Rockie comes up with on her plan, and for Jason to get more intel on Alfaro's possible immigration fraud. Anything new on Andrew Carmichael?"

"Who?" asked Tyler.

"Sorry Tyler, I forgot that you have been kept away from some information. Any files you have on the gunman at the mall identified him as Tom Adams. His real name was Andrew Carmichael."

"You know who he was? Do you also know why he attempted to shoot up the mall that day?"

"We haven't determined his motive yet," Jason said, "But maybe a fresh set of eyes will discover something we have missed. I'll get a copy of the files printed out for you."

"Very good," said Bobby. "We'll adjourn for now, and get back together as soon as we have something to discuss as a group, but no later than Monday morning."

Without waiting for anyone else, Katie grabbed Tyler's hand and practically dragged him from the communication room, back to their bedroom.

"It's going to be too hot this afternoon to do anything outside other than swimming," she told him. "However, there are a lot of indoor activities that could keep us occupied."

"Can I make another suggestion?" Tyler said.

Katie raised an eyebrow and asked, "What might that be?"

Tyler sat on the end of the bed and pulled Katie onto his lap. She put her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes while waiting for him to speak.

"Katie, I trust that you know that I love you with all my heart, and I know that you love me."

Katie just nodded.

"Do you have any doubt that you and I are destined to spend the rest of our lives together?" he asked.

Katie shook her head.

"Good. My suggestion is that we don't wait. What I would like to do today, with you, to pick out an engagement ring and wedding band set for us."

"Holy crap!" Katie said as she buried her tears into Tyler's neck.

She pulled back slightly so she could speak, and said, "I told Cile this morning that I wanted to propose to you before we left for home. How do you always get into my head and my thoughts to know things like that?"

"Great minds think alike?" teased Tyler.

He then placed his hands on either side of Katie's tear-streaked face and said, "Yes, Kathryn Francis Brandt, I will marry you."

Katie pushed on Tyler until his back was flat on the bed and she was laying on top of him. Their eyes met and held the shared gaze for several minutes before she spoke.

"And yes, Tyler Oglethorpe-Davis, I will marry you, on one condition."

Tyler reached down to Katie's waist and began pulling her shirt off. He already knew what her "one condition" was, and he was going to meet it for her right now.

~~~

JR pulled into the driveway of his parent's house and parked the Corvair in an open space in the garage.

"Might as well make carrying all this stuff as short a trip as possible," JR told Tyler. "Let's stack it over against that wall so we can get to whatever we need when the time comes."

The cargo area and back seat of JR's car were filled with boxes of liquor and mixers. In addition to the Margaritas requested for their taco night this evening, they had stocked up on everything else Tyler said they would need for him to fulfill all the drink requests the family members had been sharing since they learned of his skills.

Katie and Cile came out of the house into the garage. Katie had on her bright pink bikini, but Cile was wearing one that presented the same flesh tone illusion that Katie had tricked Tyler with. Cile really did have a pretty significant tan already, so the illusion was even more dramatic with her.

Tyler wasn't surprised, but JR's jaw dropped when he saw his cousin and he did a double-take.

"Jesus, Cile, you can't go around like that!"

Tyler put his arm on JR's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. JR just shook his head and began unloading his car.

"Keep your little tricks away from my wife," JR said, and everyone laughed.

"We'll help unload," Katie said. "The sooner you're done, the sooner you can join us in the pool. The twins are being watched by Mom right now, but I know her and Rockie have some shopping that they want to do, so we can cover for them."

Tyler pulled Katie aside and whispered, "I thought we were going to go shopping for rings this afternoon..."

"Taco night will be wrapped up by six, and the jewelry stores all stay open until at least nine o'clock on a Friday night," Katie explained in her own whisper. "Don't worry, Cutie, I want those rings and what they symbolize as much, if not more than you do."

"Good to know. You'll just have to limit your Margarita consumption so you can drive into town."

"Guess again," Katie giggled. "There is no way that you are going to get me defenseless on the way to buy anything as romantic as engagement and wedding rings. I'm already so freaking turned on by you that it's a struggle not to embarrass both of us in front of other people. The thought of being your wife has me literally panting for you."

"Are you two going to help, or stand over there fawning over each other all day?" Cile asked.

"You're driving!" Katie whispered as if to settle the point before walking over to take a box out of the backseat of the car. Tyler chuckled and grabbed his box.

The four made quick work of unloading. Tyler went through the access door in the garage, down to change into his swimsuit, while JR went into the house to his room. Katie, Cile, and Rockie were waiting for them on the pool deck, watching the twins play in the water. Tyler was surprised to see the six-year-olds swimming and splashing unrestricted in the pool. Apparently, they knew how to swim well enough for them not to be limited to the shallow end.

Disappointed that her bikini hadn't been a surprise to anyone but JR, Cile waded into the shallow end of the pool until her bottoms were covered by water. Everyone watching witnessed the fabric transform into a beautiful emerald green color under the water. She held her nose and squatted down until her head was underwater, emerging with the top of her bikini once more matching the bottoms.

"You know that your safe in here with me," Cile said to Tyler. "I don't mess around with engaged or married men."

Tyler laughed, "I seem to remember a conversation about some starfish earrings that would contradict that statement."

Katie pushed Tyler into the water and then jumped in beside him. She had her arms wrapped around his neck before he resurfaced. She wrapped her legs around his waist.

"The married man that gave Cile those earrings was my dad," Katie said with a grin. "Her and I got matching earrings that were custom-made for us by an artisan jeweler while on vacation on Mo'orea."

Tyler felt another wet, feminine body against his back as Cile also wrapped her legs just slightly below where Katie had hers.

"Now Katie doesn't have to hide hers from you," Cile said. "And I don't have to hide the necklace that she gave me for my birthday."

"I don't want either of you to ever feel the need to hide anything from me again," Tyler said, his eyes locked firmly on Katie's.

Tyler felt the twins attaching themselves to him on either side. He felt like a buoy in the ocean being inundated by seagulls. Katie and Cile laughed at Tyler's situation but made no effort to provide any relief to him.

"I told you that everyone was going to fall in love with you," Katie whispered in his ear.

"Yeah, I'm going to be drowning in love here pretty soon."

Tyler felt Cile disengage herself from his back first, followed by Katie.

"Come on guys," said Cile, "Let's play a game."

That got the twins off Tyler as they quickly surrounded Cile, asking what game they were going to play. Katie took Tyler's hand and pulled him over to the steps out of the shallow end. She took a seat on the second step and positioned him to sit on the step below her so that he could lean back against her and she could caress his wet shoulders and chest.

They sat silently for several minutes, watching Cile throw various items for the twins to retrieve from the bottom of the pool.

"They'd make pretty good treasure hunters," Tyler said. "It's amazing how long they can hold their breath."

"They're all-around amazing kids," Katie said. "I've regretted not being able to be a bigger part of their lives. Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"Our commitment to each other, combined with seeing you with the twins has been making me think. What would you think about us starting a family?"

Tyler hesitated a minute before answering, "I've been thinking along similar lines, but didn't want to say anything that might make you feel that I was in a hurry. I remember your "dream job" as being a wife and mother, and I want to give that role to you, but I also need to know that it is at a time of your own choosing. You're the one with choices to make relative to career. I'll fully support whatever you want to do."

"You would have career choices too. I know that you're not happy with what you are doing now, my secret aside. What would your dream job be?"

"Something that I felt mattered, but wasn't all-consuming. I would want to be home, to sleep with you every night and with my kids every day."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Sure."

"Talk to my dad, and be honest with what you want. He might not know of a role to suit you, but he provides the best advice of anyone I have ever known."

"I'll do that," Tyler said. "What about you?"

"I'm going to talk to my mom."

~~~

"Are you sure that you ladies don't need any help?" Tyler asked.

"No," Katie said. "Tacos are our treat to ourselves. Each of us has a task we can focus on while preparing everything, and it's always been a 'girls-only' type of activity. You just keep the Margarita pitchers full, and you'll be doing more than enough. What are you reading?"

"Jason sent back the file on Andrew Carmichael with Joey. I was just starting to review it."

"Tyler, please keep anything you learn about him to yourself," Katie implored. "Right now, I am handling what happened because everything is impersonal. Learning anything about the guy would change that. Do you understand?"

"I do, and you won't learn anything about him from me. I promise."

"Thanks," Katie said. "I better get back into the kitchen to do my part. I get to grate the cheese and mix the guacamole."

"Critical components of taco night if there ever were any," Tyler chuckled. "Holler if there is anything that I can do besides drinks."

"I will." Katie kissed Tyler and left him sitting at the poolside table.

Tyler glanced over at JR and Bobby, who each had one of the twins on their shoulders as they played in the pool. Joey had his son on his shoulders. He found himself wishing that he had someone on his shoulders in the same fashion. Someday.

Opening the file again, Tyler began reviewing the scant biographical information that had been collected on Andrew Carmichael. To say that the guy had faced challenges in his life would have been a colossal understatement. As a white male, Tyler was very familiar with the discrimination that Carmichael had faced. However, unlike Carmichael, his family had provided Tyler with the resources he needed to accomplish his goals.

Tyler and his father only had to pay the mandatory restitution tax on their income, which was supposed to fund payments to descendants of African slaves, but in reality, paid yearly stipends to anyone who even alleged to have experienced discrimination of any kind.

Andrew Carmichael had been forced to rely upon a society that harbored centuries-old resentment of 'white male privilege', which they forced Andrew Carmichael and others like him to pay restitution for by denying them any opportunities that could be given to a minority, whether earned or not.

Carmichael had been bounced around from foster home to foster home during most of his childhood. When his grandmother had turned him over to social services, he had been swallowed up into the foster care system of the country's largest county, by area. San Bernardino County is close to the size of West Virginia, and Tyler saw that Carmichael's foster home placements allowed him to see virtually all of it.

It wasn't until his freshman year of high school that Carmichael finally attained his first hint of stability. Placed with a foster family in Redlands, he had not moved again until after he turned eighteen and graduated from high school. Four years in the same place must have seemed like heaven.

There wasn't anything noteworthy in Carmichael's continuing education and work histories, so Tyler breezed through those quickly. Moving on to the autopsy report, it didn't reveal much more than what the death certificate had stated, which was that the cause of death was massive blood loss. The report did confirm that the bullets were 380 ACP's, which Tyler knew from the video.

One interesting unanswered question in the autopsy was related to Carmichael's blood. There was evidence of targeting proteins of some type that had not been identified, but since these could not have been contributing factors in his death, it didn't look like the question was pursued.

Turning over the last page of the autopsy report, Tyler came upon copies of the autopsy photos. Carmichael had been an average-looking man and appeared physically healthy if not particularly muscular. Tyler kept flipping through the images until one brought him up short.

"Excuse me, Bobby, can you come over here for a minute?" Tyler hollered to the group in the pool.

"I'll be right there," Bobby said. "I need a break anyway."

Tyler stared at the image until he sensed Bobby taking a chair beside him. He held up the image of interest for Bobby to see.

"This tattoo was on Carmichael?" Tyler asked.

"Yeap, on the back of one of his thighs. I don't remember which one."

"His right thigh," Tyler said. "Do you know where he got the tattoo or why?"

"We haven't found out yet," Bobby said. "Why?"

"Wait here a minute, I want to get my laptop from downstairs and show you something."

Bobby nodded as Tyler jumped from the table and quickly walked into the poolroom, down the stairs to the safe house, and retrieved the backpack containing his laptop. He was reseating himself at the table within two minutes. Bobby had been joined at the table by Joey and JR.

Tyler pulled his laptop out of the backpack, set it on the table, and turned it on. While it was booting, he found the micro-SD card that the Sheriff's office had given him and held it up for the other men to see.

"This SD card was found by the Orange County Sheriff's office in the evidence locker where Carmichael's duffel bag had been placed immediately after the shooting. It wasn't discovered until last week, and they gave it to me," Tyler explained.

"What's on it?" Joey asked.

"I don't know, and neither did the Sheriff's office. It appears to be encrypted, but when it loads, the same picture of a heart as the tattoo appears."

"Encrypted?" JR asked. Without waiting for an answer, he walked into the kitchen and returned with Rockie.

"What's up?" Rockie asked.

Tyler explained the image of the tattoo on the gunman matching an image on an SD card that appeared to be encrypted. Rockie listened patiently.

"Do you have the SD card?" she asked.

Tyler held it up for her to see. She took it between two fingers and briefly examined it.

"Do you mind if I use your laptop for a minute?" Rockie asked.

In reply, Tyler stood and held his seat out for Rockie. She did a quick study of the operating system and applications on the laptop before opening the disk properties menu.

"One thing you always should do in the properties of any external drive," Rockie said, "is making certain to disable the 'autorun' option. That will allow you to examine the contents of the external drive before it can automatically run an executable file that might infect or otherwise damage your computer."

After following her own guidance and adjusting the settings on Tyler's laptop, Rockie inserted the micro-SD card into the appropriate slot. She had to manually open the directory for the SD card, which showed only one executable file on it. Its name was "Cor.exe".

"Isn't 'cor' Latin for 'heart'?" Tyler asked from over Rockie's shoulder.

"I would have to run it through a translator application," she said as she began examining the contents of the SD card. She went to the properties specific to the SD card and selected "unhide files". Two additional text files became visible on the card.

"Rather than breaking down a door. Why not just use a key?" Rockie asked.

The first file she opened had a series of letters and numbers, which she copied before closing the file. She then clicked on the executable file. The heart image came onto the screen, along with the Latin words below it. Tyler stopped Rockie at this point.

"There!" he said to the others. "Doesn't that look like the same heart drawing as on the tattoo?"

Bobby, JR, and Joey took turns looking over Rockie's shoulder at Tyler's laptop, and all agreed that the image was the same.

"Did you translate the words?" Bobby asked Tyler.

"Yes, they translate from Latin into roughly 'I too have a bleeding heart'."

Rockie glanced up over her shoulder at Tyler and said, "That's the motto for the Sororibus."

"What's the Sororibus?" asked Joey.

Rockie explained, "The Sororibus is rumored to be a sisterhood, which is what Sororibus means in Latin. Legend has it that when Pope Clement V dissolved the Knights Templar right after the turn of the fourteenth century, the wives, daughters and other women tied to the Knights faced persecution, and sometimes even death due to their association with the banned order. They joined together in secret to offer security and support to one another. A theory popular with conspiracy junkies is that one reason the Templar Treasure has never been found is that the Sororibus is the group that actually hid it away when the Knights were being rounded up and frequently killed and that the group still exists in secret to this day. I don't know about any treasure, but the Sororibus, as an organization is real."

"What's in the file?" JR asked.

"The text file probably contained the password we need to open it," Rockie said. "Let's see..."

Rockie pasted the copied password into the correct field. The executable file simply decompressed a series of files into a new folder on the SD card.

"Before we go through those," Bobby said, "what is in the other text file that was hidden?"

Rockie returned to the file in question and opened it. Bobby and Tyler both leaned in to read over Rockie's shoulders. It read:

Nobody wants to die.

Although I know that this is my fate today, I approach it willingly. The Sororibus has taken everything from me, and I cannot in good conscious allow them to do this to millions of others. If my death is what it takes to stop the Sororibus, it is a small price to pay.

The documents on the SD card are evidence of what they have developed. My autopsy will show that they have been successful in their efforts. I pray that someone recognizes the urgency and the need to act before it is too late. October 13th is less than nine months away.

Max, I know that you don't believe that my heart has always belonged only to you. I have never been unfaithful to you, and I approach my death today as committed to you as the first day that we met at the Clayton's. You deserve a complete man, and that is something that I can never be again because of the Sororibus, not because of another woman. Actually, that's not true, because it was another woman, Bianca Clary, Ph.D. who did the things to me on behalf of the Sororibus, and who then laughed at us both.

My dying prayer will be for any innocent people who get hurt today by my actions. If there were some other way for me to bring attention to the plans to destroy so many other lives around the world, I would choose it. Please believe me.

"It's from Carmichael," Tyler said. "He's trying to explain his motive for the shooting."

Bobby and Tyler took seats at the table as Rockie went back to reviewing the decompressed files.

"He is implying that this legendary 'sisterhood' still exists and that they did something to him," Joey said.

"Joey, go see what you can find in our databases about the Sororibus, and look into the name, 'Bianca Clary," Bobby instructed. "What time are your dad and mom coming over?"

Joey rose and said, "They should be here anytime."

"Thanks," Bobby said. "JR, please go let your mom know that we may need to delay dinner for a few minutes."

"Bobby," Rockie cried out, "You need to see this!"

Bobby and Tyler pulled their chairs over, closer to Rockie so that they could see the laptop without looking over her shoulders.

"What?" Bobby asked once he was in a position to see the screen.

"This first document," explained Rockie, "is a publication that details a clinical research project. The project was funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify methods for chemically castrating male sex offenders with fewer side effects than the existing methods."

"Okay..." Bobby said. "Go on."

"This next document is another clinical study report, that while not approved by the US government, builds off the first study to expand the scope of the chemical castration procedure to also include the blocking of all sexual desires, even for someone who had already been rendered incapable of having sex. Here is a summary" Rockie read:

The castration of the subject involved a transluminal procedure that utilized nanobots to place a substance into the vasa deferentia, the tubes that connect the testicles to the prostate, which eventually caused blockage of the sperm. The nanobots became embedded between the vasa deferentia and the gonads on one side of the blockage, and between the vasa deferentia and the bulbourethral glands on the other side of the blockage. In addition, they continually produced and released a synthetic anaphrodisiac drug that eliminated any capacity for sexual arousal.

"Is that what they did to Carmichael?" Bobby asked. "They chemically castrated him, and then for good measure administer an anaphrodisiac to blunt out any sexual desire within him?"

"An unauthorized clinical study?" Tyler asked. "Who sponsored it?"

"It's not clear at this point," Rockie said, "but this last document might give us a clue. Listen."

Rockie read from the computer as the others listened:

We have shown that Jewishness can be identified through genetic analysis, so the notion of a Jewish people is plausible. Yet the genomes of the Jewish Diaspora groups have distinctive features that are representative of each group's genetic history. Our study demonstrated that the studied Jewish populations represent a series of geographical isolates or clusters with genetic threads that weave them together. These threads were observed as identical strands of DNA that were shared within and between Jewish groups.

"Jesus," Bobby said. "Joey, go on down to the communication room and initiate a connection with the operations center in DC. Rockie, please take Tyler's laptop with you down to the communications room and start printing out copies of all the documents on that card."

"Sure, Bobby."

Once they were alone, Bobby leaned over and said to Tyler, "Don't let Katie know what we have been discussing. If this is as potentially serious as it appears to be, her targeting Carmichael's groin area likely destroyed any evidence of the nanobots inside him. She doesn't need to know that."

~~~

Rockie had connected Tyler's laptop to the large flat-panel display on the wall of the communications room so everyone could share the images simultaneously. The displayed feed was also going to a similar room in the Department of Homeland Security operations center in Washington, DC.

"Okay," Bobby said, "Joey, update us on what you have learned."

Joey didn't have anything to show the assembled group, so he read from his notes.

"We have very little on the Sororibus in our databases, and almost everything that is there has been fed to us from one or more intelligence operations in Europe, and primarily mention alleged attempts to recruit a prominent woman to the group. The invitations only come to light when the woman receiving them suspects them as a scam of some sort and reports it to the police. None of the invitations have been traceable up to this point, and the authenticity of the invitations hasn't been verified by any law enforcement organization."

"Have there been any reports of American women receiving invitations?" asked Jason.

"No," replied Joey, "but if an invitation was accepted, we would never know."

"I was invited," Rockie said, "right before graduating from college. So was Karen Mason while she was at MIT. We've talked about it."

"What can you tell us about this Bianca Clary and who she works for?" asked Cile. Joey had brought her up to date so that her experience with clinical research facilities could be included in their discussions.

"That's a little clearer," Joey said. "Bianca Clary is a German national, currently working for the French conglomerate, Femmes du Monde. She holds a doctorate in nanotechnology from the Sorbonne. She has been in the United States on a work visa for the past three years, assigned to a research lab in San Bernardino, California owned by Biohybrids, a subsidiary of Pyxis Pharmaceuticals, which in turn is a subsidiary of Femmes du Monde."

"What projects have Biohybrids been authorized to conduct clinical trials on?" Cile asked.

"None," Joey confirmed. "Pyxis has been approved for clinical trials on a drug to treat Lupus, but nothing else as of this time."

Cile addressed the group, "The use of nanotechnology for surgery of any kind is still under review by the FDA, and is not currently permitted in the United States. The issue appears to be concern over how the body will deal with the disposal of either surgical debris or inactive nanobots after the surgery. The procedures are much more common in Europe, particularly in France and Germany. The only reason that a clinical trial would be approved is if the test subjects were restricted to convicted sex offenders only, which doesn't appear to be what happened if Andrew Carmichael was one of the participants."

"We did a search for any clinical trial announcements by Biohybrids and found three from the summer of last year; one for sickle cell anemia in adult black males, one for diabetes in adult Asian males, and finally, one related to Late-Onset Tay-Sachs disease," Joey said, "But there is no record that Biohybrids was authorized for those trials either."

"They were verifying their gene targeting," Cile said. "They were testing on men with drastically different DNA and gene structures, which could be how Andrew Carmichael got involved. Tay-Sachs occurs disproportionately in Ashkenazi Jews. If this Bianca Clary intended to try to isolate the response of the nanobots to specific genetic markers, then she would need subjects who had those markers in their DNA. Joey, did the announcement last year mention the criteria for participation in the Tay-Sachs trial?"

"You're spot-on Sis. I quote, 'Participants must be a minimum of 48% Ashkenazi Jewish'. They were offering to pay $25,000 for people who met the requirements."

"Which Carmichael apparently did," said Jason. "The bottom line for us right now is that the study apparently proved the success of both their nanobot procedure and their gene targeting. Has anyone read far enough into the documents to ascertain their plans?"

"We know that the date of October 13^th means something to them," said Tyler. "That may tie in with the legend of the Sororibus, since it was Friday, October 13^th in 1307 when the Knights Templar began getting arrested. It must be something of an anniversary date for them."

"And it apparently involves Jewish males. Lots of Jewish males," said JR.

"Suggestions on our strategy?" Bobby said.

"I've already infiltrated the servers at Femmes du Monde, Pyxis, and Biohybrids," Rockie said. "I need to set up filtering algorithms for each and thought that I would start with e-mails. Any suggestions on keywords or phrases to use in this case would be appreciated."

"Everybody get your suggestions to Rockie as soon as possible," Bobby said. "Let's cast a wide net to begin with and narrow things down once we see what we find."

"I need to get to the Biohybrids lab with my team as soon as possible", said Cile. "There is bound to be more information there that will tell us what to expect. I'll also get our pathologists to dig deeper into the samples of Carmichael's blood to try to identify any traces of what they put into him."

"I'll have someone casually reach out to the Mossad," said Jason. "If there is anything in the wind about Jewish men being targeted, they would be all over it."

"Agreed," said Bobby. "Any ideas about who this person, 'Max' might be that Carmichael mentioned. Could he or she be able to shed some light on what happened?"

Tyler had just finished re-reading Carmichael's letter. Something was nagging him, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Hang on a second," Tyler said as he tried to find the file on Andrew Carmichael that had started them down this path. He found the page he was looking for.

"Well, I'll be," Tyler said. "I wonder..."

"You wonder what?" asked Jason.

Tyler looked up and answered, "When we were investigating the clerk at the jewelry store where Katie bought the necklace that day in the mall, we discovered that the clerk had lived for a while in a foster home next door to a member of our investigative team. The name of the family was 'Clayton', the same as the foster family that Carmichael lived with during all four of his high school years."

"That can't be a coincidence," Jason said. "What is the name of the investigator?"

"Claire Maxwell."

Chapter Seventeen

"Oh, my handicap is off the chart," Katie said in a mocking tone. "Yeah, Cutie, zero is definitely off the chart."

JR and Rockie were laughing as they helped Tyler load the golf bags into the back of Patty's SUV. Katie feigned annoyance at being bested by Tyler on the nine holes that the four had just played, but anyone who saw her face every time Tyler hit the golf ball could see the pride in her expression.

Tyler walked to the rear passenger door and opened it for Katie. She kissed him before sliding into the back seat. Tyler then held the front passenger door open for Rockie, closed his eyes, and puckered his lips. He heard the expected laugh from Rockie and felt her lips on his cheek as she kissed him there instead of his lips.

JR had started the car before Tyler had made it around to get in on his side of the backseat, allowing them to be heading back to the house without further delay. It was just after nine o'clock and the temperature outside was already over ninety degrees.

"I have forgotten how much fun a links course could be," Tyler said.

"Most golfers find them more challenging," Katie pouted, "And you played better than scratch golf on one with borrowed clubs. Bastard."

Tyler, JR, and Rockie all laughed again.

"I have to apologize for my kid sister, Tyler," JR said. "She never had an opportunity to learn how to be a gracious loser or a good sport since she always wins at everything. You played a hell of a round, or I should say, half a round. Two under par after nine holes is pretty impressive, especially on a strange course. Not to mention your distraction over the operations. Or, was you bringing them up between every hole your way of distracting the rest of us?"

"It just didn't feel right taking time for something fun while there are still so many questions to be answered, both about dealing with Alfaro and also this Pyxis project, whatever it is," Tyler said.

"You heard my dad this morning," JR said. "Cile and her team will be at the Biohybrids lab in San Bernardino this morning to tear the place apart. Joey has already located Claire Maxwell, and she will be brought in for questioning as soon as the other Homeland Security agents being assigned to this case arrive. Their plane is scheduled to land at Ontario International Airport later this morning, Pacific time. Rockie's algorithms are gathering data from all their servers. There was nothing else for us to do in the meantime, so why not enjoy nine holes of golf."

"I could have thought of something to do," Katie whispered into Tyler's ear as JR parked the car in the driveway of the house, "And there's still time to do it."

"I thought that you were mad at me for beating you," Tyler whispered back.

"Oh, I am," Katie said as she unfastened her seatbelt and then leaned back over towards Tyler so her words would only be heard by him. "So now you get to experience 'make up sex' with me for the first time."

Tyler smiled, unfastened his seatbelt, and got out of the car. Before any of them could enter the house through the garage, Bobby intercepted them.

"Good, you're back," Bobby said. "We need to get the stuff into town to start setting up the course for the race and marking off the parking spots for people. Here, Tyler, you load up that box of ropes over there into my truck. Katie, go get the marking paint out of the cabinet where I keep it. JR, you can grab the wooden stakes and mallets, and Rockie, Patty is waiting for you to figure out what you want the twins to wear."

Katie wanted to scream, "Dad, you'll never get grandchildren from me if you don't let me practice!", but she dutifully did her part to get things ready for the fundraiser.

Once all the supplies and equipment were loaded into the truck, Bobby suggested that she and Tyler get in the back seat of the truck, and let JR ride shotgun up front.

"I think we'll follow you in the SSR," Katie said. "I don't want to get stuck in town if you have to go respond to a fire or anything in your truck."

"It's your choice," Bobby said. "We'll see you there."

"We just need to go down and get our keys and stuff," Katie said as she took Tyler's hand and led him to the access panel, opened it with her palm print, and they descended the stairs.

Katie had unbuttoned her shirt before reaching the last step. She looked over her shoulder and said, "Your make up sex routine better be top-notch because you don't have much time to pull it off."

Tyler didn't need to remove his clothes to accomplish his objective of satisfying Katie's desires. His mouth and hands were already exposed. Her multiple orgasms within five quick minutes left her literally and figuratively, drained.

Tyler did have to change his polo shirt though since it was now soaked around the collar and across both shoulders.

Panting, Katie said, "Your apology is accepted. Problem is, we don't have time now for me to apologize properly to you."

"It might be fun for you to be in my debt," Tyler said as he rose from his knees at the foot of the bed and extended a hand to help Katie rise.

"Cutie, I have been in your debt since the first time I saw you. I can never repay the joy that you have brought to my life, how fulfilled you have made me, and the promise of a future together that fills my heart with more love than I could ever imagine."

"I'm right there with you," Tyler said. "Now help me think of an excuse for the others as to why I changed my shirt."

Katie quickly put her clothes back on, buttoning her shirt as she walked to the closet. She selected one of Tyler's Hawaiian-style shirts and handed it to him.

"It's simple," she told him, "It's going to be hot today, so you wanted a shirt that was looser fitting than your polo shirt was. Problem solved."

"That actually would be my preference," Tyler said as he started buttoning the shirt. "All set?"

"Oh yeah. Let's go help them get set up, and then I'll make an excuse for us to leave as soon as possible."

Tyler followed Katie back up the stairs to the garage as he said, "I thought that you might be satisfied enough with what just happened that your desires would be dampened for a while."

"Sweetie, my desires for you will never dampen. But we still have rings to pick out, remember? Mind if I drive?"

In response, Tyler held the driver's side door open for Katie to get in, before scurrying around to the passenger side. Sliding in, he said, "You don't need my permission to drive your own truck."

Katie started the SSR and said, "It's not 'my' truck. It's part of our community property now. What was mine is now ours."

Tyler laughed and said, "I like the sound of 'ours', and not just where this truck is concerned."

Racing the truck down the long driveway, Katie said, "I knew you would."

~~~

"You know when we tell my parents, they're going to immediately ask about a date," Katie said.

She and Tyler were sitting on the bed downstairs after returning from San Antonio. Katie was studying the engagement ring on her finger while she and Tyler discussed when and how to make their announcement to Katie's family.

"Would sometime next June give everyone enough time to make plans?" Tyler suggested.

Katie threw her arms around Tyler's neck and kissed his cheek.

"June 8th!" she exclaimed. "It will be on a Sunday next year. The one-year anniversary of our meeting."

"Works for me," Tyler said. "Now how do you want to break the news?"

Katie held up her left hand to examine the ring again, "I think we should just let everyone figure it out on their own. I'm curious to see who notices the ring first. Let's get our swimsuits on and go see."

They both took their time changing, and Tyler hoped that the fire in Katie's eyes as she watched him undress was matched by what she could see in his own eyes. The sight of her body lit a fire in him that never seemed to be fully extinguished.

Katie did see it. As soon as Tyler lowered his underwear, she fell to her knees in front of him and began repaying her debt from that morning.

Tyler got so weak in the knees at Katie's enthusiastic oral ministrations, that he had to sit back on the foot of the bed. Katie never lost focus as she scooted on her knees to follow Tyler, as he sat and spread his legs.

To this point, Katie had always heeded Tyler's warning of an impending climax while he was in her mouth, letting him pull out and calm down before it was too late. As his warning was uttered this time, Katie grabbed the back of Tyler's buttocks and refused to release him. Once he realized her intentions, Tyler gave up any attempts to withdraw, and let nature take its course.

Katie's eyes closed as Tyler pulsed inside her mouth, moaning as she experienced her own climax. After several seconds, he felt Katie swallowing with him still in her mouth, her tongue struggling to move with her lips still locked tight around him. She opened her eyes and Tyler saw loving pride evident in her gaze up at him and she slowly released him from her mouth.

"You are amazing," Tyler said.

"I loved doing that for you, for us," Katie said. "Thanks for letting me."

Tyler pointed to his deflating arousal, "It's like you said, it's part of our community property now. What was mine is now ours."

Katie laughed and let Tyler help her to her feet.

"Good thing I hadn't finished changing. These panties are soaked. You are just one walking, talking, breathing, orgasm machine for me. You stimulate my body just by looking at me, Cutie, and I love it."

"As do I," Tyler said. "I lust for you almost as much as I love you."

"Ditto. Now let's resume our plan to join everyone at the pool."

When they exited the pool house, they saw that the focus in the pool was once more on entertaining the twins and Joey junior. Jen and Rockie were in the water this time, coaching a game of "Marco Polo" for their kids.

Tyler tried not to be obvious while doing so, but his admiration for the bikini-clad mothers in the pool was hard to ignore.

"They do look great, don't they?" Katie said. "In some ways, they're my inspiration for wanting to have children. Knowing that I don't have to look like a frump afterward. Of course, my own mom is an even better example."

Tyler merely nodded as they took seats at the table where Bobby and Patty watched the others in the pool.

"Where did you two take off to today?" Bobby asked.

"We had some errands to run in San Antonio," Katie said.

"Did you go by Rick's?" Patty asked.

"No, we'll try to do that tomorrow. Sundays are slower there."

"Tyler should join us down in the communications room in about thirty minutes," Bobby said. "The interrogations of Bianca Clary and Claire Maxwell will be live-streamed so we can watch them. I also expect that we're going to have operational reviews taking place tomorrow afternoon and evening once Rockie has reviewed the data from the servers. Try to get anything you need to do done in the morning. Your mom and I will be taking the twins with us to church if you want to accompany us."

"Tyler and I will discuss it and let you know," Katie said.

"It would provide you with an opportunity to discuss the use of the church for your wedding," Patty said. "Unless you two have other plans."

Katie just stared at her mother. She hadn't noticed her even looking at the ring. She took Tyler's hand and said, "Do we have other plans?"

"I am totally without plan. Call me plan-less," Tyler teased. "You two don't seem surprised."

Bobby and Patty both laughed.

Bobby said, "We're not in the slightest. We knew as soon as Katie mentioned bringing a man home with her, we would be meeting her future husband. She never brought a boy over here, so we knew that this held special significance and we were prepared."

Tyler gaped at Katie and said, "You never brought anyone else here? Not even someone picking you up for a date?"

Katie smiled and shook her head, "Nope. Either I would meet my date somewhere or it would be a double date with Cile and we would be picked up at her house."

"She must have gotten it from JR," Patty said. "He never brought a girl home either until Rockie."

"Well remember," Bobby said, "Whatever you two want is fine with us. Do you have a date in mind yet?"

Katie was beaming as she said, "June 8th of next year."

"What day of the week is that?" Patty asked.

"It's a Sunday," Tyler responded before Katie.

"The church might not be available to you in that case," Patty informed them. "More and more groups are using the facilities for meetings and events after church each week."

"Can we get married here, at the house?" Katie asked.

"I think that would depend on how many guests you planned on having," Bobby said.

Katie glanced at Tyler, who shrugged and said, "I only have to invite three or four, maybe five. Why don't you put the groom's party down as an even half dozen?"

"Will your parents agree to that few?" Katie asked. "In their social circles and all..."

"They'll agree to it if we tell them that the limit is only for the wedding itself. We would probably have to agree to them hosting a second reception for us at their house after the fact. Then they could invite anyone they wanted to that."

"Uncle Tyler, Uncle Tyler!"

Two wet and excited children had crawled into Tyler's lap.

"Uncle Tyler?" he asked Rockie who had taken the seat on his other side. Further discussions on wedding plans were deferred until later.

The twins were busily opening juice boxes that Jen had given each of them. Katie was trying to suppress a laugh over Tyler being the adult used as the twin's booster seat that enabled them to be at the correct height for the table.

"Of course, 'Uncle Tyler'," Rockie said. "The blinding reflection from the rock on Katie's hand means that you're going to be their uncle. I told them to start referring to you properly."

"Do you want to join us to watch the interrogations, Rockie?" Bobby asked.

"No thank you. JR will fill me in on anything that he thinks would be germane to my data filters."

"Where is JR, by the way?" Patty asked. "And did Jen leave?"

"He offered to go upstairs to get T-shirts for the twins. They've had enough sun on them for a while. Here he comes now. Jen is returning a call from Joey so he and Joey junior can talk for a few minutes. She didn't know if they would have a chance to speak later today."

JR handed Rockie identical t-shirts and asked Bobby, "Is it about time?"

Bobby checked the time on his cell phone and said, "Close enough."

As Bobby rose from his chair, Katie pulled Jamison from Tyler's lap and onto her own. Rockie handed one of the T-shirts to Katie before pulling Jimmy onto her lap. Tyler rose and then leaned over to kiss Katie before following JR and Bobby into the pool house.

Jen came out of the house with her son. She took the chair that Tyler had just vacated and set Joey junior onto her lap before handing him his own juice box.

"I was supposed to tell Bobby that Jason might be delayed a few minutes, but it looks like they've already left for downstairs," Jen said.

"They just headed there," Patty said, and then she addressed Katie. "Now, back to your wedding..."

~~~

Tyler, Bobby, and JR all sat together at the far end of the conference table to better facilitate their ability to see the large flat panel display, and their ability to chat amongst themselves during the pending interrogations.

Bobby said, "Joey texted that they are going to start with the questioning of Claire Maxwell. They have taken her to the Federal Building in San Bernardino. While not officially in custody, the invitation to accompany the agents was not made optional for her."

"Who's going to be questioning her?" Tyler asked.

"Joey will handle Maxwell, another senior agent by the name of Kris Acosta will be questioning Bianca Clary. Maxwell is being treated as a possible witness of sorts, with details on Carmichael that we want her to share openly, so she'll be handled differently than Clary, who is a suspect. You'll see."

The door to the communications room opened and Jason Reid silently entered and took a seat next to the others. He had barely settled before an image appeared on the display. Claire Maxwell was wearing casual clothes, consisting of a tank top, denim shorts and white tennis shoes without socks. She sat at a table in what was obviously an interrogation room. Her interrogator was not visible from the ceiling-mounted camera.

"Please state your full name for the record," said a male voice.

Claire was looking straight ahead, ignoring the camera above her, that she had to know was there, "Claire Evelyn Maxwell"

"Do you mind if I call you Claire?" the man asked.

Claire shook her head.

"Thanks. Now, Claire I only have a few questions for you today, then we'll get you back home so you can enjoy the rest of your Sunday afternoon. Okay?"

"I'll answer what I can," said Claire, "But since I still don't know what this is concerning, I can't make any promises."

"I understand," the man said. "Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Joseph Reid. I'm a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security."

"Is this about the Shoreline Mall shooting?" Claire said. "Because if it is, I'm no longer working that case."

"Please let me ask my questions, Claire, then I think the reason for you being here today will be clear to you."

Claire said nothing, so Joey began his questioning, "You formerly lived at 2834 Moreno Drive in Redlands. Is that correct?"

"Yes, and my parents still live there."

"During the time that you lived at that address, did you become acquainted with the residents living next door at 2830 Moreno Drive.?"

"Yes, I knew them very well. They are Luke and Cindy Clayton."

"To your knowledge, did the Claytons have any children?" Joey asked.

"None of their own," Claire said. "They were foster parents for dozens of kids over the years. I believe that they still take in foster kids on occasion."

"Would you remember the names of any foster children who ever lived with the Claytons?"

"I can remember a few of them that I got to know."

"Is the name Andrew Carmichael one that you remember?"

There was a visible tensing of Claire's entire body at the mention of Carmichael's name. She stared straight at her questioner for several seconds before answering.

"Yes, I remember the name."

"Can you describe your relationship with Andrew Carmichael? Were you just neighbors, friends, classmates, what?"

"It sort of evolved over time," Claire said.

"Then why don't you start at the beginning and explain the evolution of your relationship?"

Claire was once again silent for several seconds before sighing. She looked down at her hands on the table and began telling her story to them rather than to Joey.

"I met Andy, that's what I called him, when I was fourteen. He arrived to stay with the Claytons right after his fifteenth birthday in July. We had always let any of the foster kids staying with the Claytons come over and use our swimming pool, so Andy spent a lot of time at my house over the summer and we became friends."

"Were the two of you in the same grade level at school?"

A slight smile of remembrance appeared on Claire's face, "We were in the same grade, but few people were on the same level as Andy. He was always the smartest kid in school. Anyway, since I was the only other kid in school that Andy knew at first, we spent a lot of time together when we weren't in class. By the time our second summer rolled around, we were boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Did you remain boyfriend and girlfriend for long?"

Claire glanced up at Joey, and the moisture in her eyes was evident. Her voice cracked as she said, "From that time until about a year ago, Andy and I were exclusively boyfriend and girlfriend to each other."

"What happened a year ago to alter your relationship?" Joey asked.

"I kicked his cheating ass out," Claire said.

"Can you explain the circumstances of your breakup?"

The tone in Claire's voice was instantly harder. It was as if the fondness she had been recently reliving had been suddenly replaced with resentment and contempt.

"Early last year, Andy started having symptoms indicative of Tay-Sachs disease. Occasional differences in his gait, slurring of words mostly. He never knew his parents, so he had a DNA test done and learned that he is fifty-five percent, Ashkenazi Jew. He must have inherited some from each of his parents. The symptoms seemed to go into remission after a couple of months, but when Andy saw an opportunity for him to participate in a clinical trial for a possible Tay-Sachs cure, he decided to look into it."

"When exactly was this?", Joey asked.

"August of last year. I remember because I spent the time at my sister's house in Corona watching her daughters while her and my brother-in-law took a cruise. Sometime around that time is when he started seeing another woman."

"Do you know who she was?"

"I'm wasn't certain then, but I learned later that it was a woman named Bianca."

"What led you to believe that Carmichael and this Bianca were in a relationship?" Joey asked.

"While I was at my sister's house, Andy and I would talk on the phone every night. He told me on the Monday of that week that he had gone to this research lab for an interview, and commented on how surprised he was that the lead researcher was as beautiful as she was and that she was from Europe. He was expecting some nerdy-looking woman or something. He went back on Wednesday for the procedure. That night on the phone he sounded confused, almost drugged, but he still complained about how painful his testicles were for whatever reason. He did the same on Thursday and Friday, but he seemed more alert and aware than he had been on Wednesday."

"Did he describe the procedure to you, or why his testicles were bothering him?"

"As much as he remembered about it. He couldn't explain the pain in his testicles, and assumed it was a side effect of the procedure, as strange as that might sound. He said that he remembered having an IV inserted into his arm, but doesn't remember anything else until he woke up at our house right before I called him."

"He didn't remember driving home?" Joey asked.

"No, he was instructed to either have someone drive him or to take a taxi to the lab on the day of the procedure. Since I wasn't available, he took a taxi. He wasn't clear on how he got home or into the house."

"Okay, please go on."

"Well, previously, whenever Andy or I had to be away from the other, we would always try to play with each other on the phone at night. Not actual phone sex, but teasing and hinting at what we were going to do when we got back together. Our sex life hadn't been over the top or anything, but we generally made love two or three times a week, and it was always... I guess enthusiastic is the best way to describe it. Andy suddenly ceased having any interest in playing on the phone that week. When I got home on Sunday, I expected that we would make love, and Andy feigned interest, but it became obvious that it was just to appease me. He couldn't get an erection with me, no matter what I tried. That's when I started suspecting. The tattoo then convinced me."

"Tattoo?" asked Joey.

Claire nodded, "On Monday morning, when Andy was getting into the shower, I noticed something on the back of his right thigh. I asked him what it was, and he claimed to not know. He told me that he had felt some tenderness in that area since the previous Wednesday, but assumed it was a scrape or something like that. I took a picture of it with my cell phone and showed it to him."

"What was it?"

"It was a heart. He had a tattoo of a heart done while I was gone."

"And he claimed not to know how it had gotten there?" Joey asked.

"That's right. Then the calls to our home phone started. The first few times, Andy answered. He would try to talk low enough so that I couldn't hear him, but he said her name too many times per call for me not to know that it was someone named Bianca that he was speaking with. Initially, he would speak calmly with her for a few minutes, almost like he was updating her on something, but after a few weeks, he started getting agitated whenever she called, and the calls were over almost as soon as they had begun."

After a pause to remember more details, Claire continued, "Andy was working as an air conditioner repair technician for a local company. As the summer months came to an end, the demand for his services normally declined, and he would usually be placed on unpaid leave until business picked up again. Last year he kept leaving for work every morning, or so he would tell me. He still had no interest in having sex, and I still had my suspicions, so I started tracking his cell phone location throughout the day.

"What did you learn?"

"His cell phone placed him at the same house every morning and it would not move until early afternoon, when his phone would then show him at the same lab where he had participated in the clinical trial. I did a reverse address look-up on the house and discovered that it was rented to a Bianca Clary. I then called the research lab and asked for her by name. The woman who answered had a German accent."

"When was the last time that you had any contact with Andrew Carmichael?"

"Thanksgiving weekend," Claire said. "Black Friday to be exact. Andy was putting up Christmas lights on our house when the phone rang. I answered it and heard a woman with a German accent ask for Andy. When I told her that he wasn't available, she asked if I was his girlfriend. I told her that I was, and then she asked me the question that ended Andy's and my relationship."

"What question was that?"

"She asked me how was our sex life. Then she just started laughing. Andy and I hadn't made love in over two months. It's not like I couldn't love him without the sex, but his total lack of desire towards me while spending every day at this other woman's house was too much. I went outside and told Andy that I wanted him to move out immediately. The house and all of the utilities are in my name, so it could be a clean break for him."

"So, you have had no contact with Andrew Carmichael since that day? No phone calls, no e-mails?"

"Andy left hundreds of voicemails on my cell phone, but I deleted every one without listening to it. All of his e-mails were deleted without opening them."

"When was the last time that Carmichael tried to communicate with you?"

Claire considered her answer for several seconds before saying, "I'm not sure of the exact date, but it was late January I think."

Joey didn't immediately ask another question. Claire sat patiently waiting for one.

Finally, Joey spoke, "Claire, in your career within law enforcement, have you seen a dead body before?"

Claire nodded.

"Okay," Joey said. "I'm going to show you a photo and ask if you recognize the person in it. Are you up for that?"

"I think so," Claire said.

Joey's back came into view as he set a manilla file folder onto the table in front of Claire Maxwell and then stepped back.

"Please open the folder and examine the photo inside. Do you recognize this person?"

Clair slowly opened the folder. Upon seeing the photo, her eyes briefly darted back up to Joey before they returned to stare at the photo again. The post-autopsy photo was focused on the face, but the stitches used to close up the 'Y' incision were visible on the upper chest.

"Do you recognize that person," Joey asked again.

"It's Andy," Claire said, barely loud enough to be heard.

"Is that the Andrew Carmichael that you knew?"

Claire nodded and tears ran down her cheeks. "What happened to him?"

"He was shot", Joey said.

"When? I never heard."

"January 23rd of this year, at the Shoreline Mall."

Claire turned ghostly white and just stared disbelievingly at Joey.

"You didn't know that the gunman at the mall that day was Andrew Carmichael?" Joey asked.

Claire was shaking her head, "I had no idea. Little was ever shared with us about the gunman, and we were focused on finding the woman. The death certificate and all the reports we were given listed the gunman as a Tom Adams. I had no idea. Why would Andy do that?"

"I have a copy of Carmichael's statement about his motive that I will share with you in a moment," Joey said. "First, I need to advise you not to speak of this information to anyone. This is a matter of national security and you would find yourself in a whole heap of trouble if you violated my confidence in you. Agreed?"

"Yes, I agree," Claire said.

"Good. Have you ever heard of the Sororibus?"

"It's some sort of women's only service club isn't it?" Claire said. "I was invited to join when I graduated from college, but I was more focused on getting my career started at the time."

"Do you know anyone who is, or has been a member of the Sororibus?" Joey asked.

"No, but they're supposed to be a pretty secretive organization, aren't they?"

"What about a company named 'Femmes du Monde'? Have you ever heard of it?"

"Maybe, but I can't think of in what context. I've never had a lot of interest in business," Claire explained.

"So, you didn't know that Femmes du Monde owned Pyxis Pharmaceuticals, which in turn owned Biohybrids, the lab where Carmichael had the procedure done, and where Bianca Clary worked as a researcher?"

"Biohybrids is the only one of those company names that I can definitely say that I know of," Claire answered.

"What about 'W.O.W. Properties'? Have you heard of that company?"

"Yes, that name came up in the investigation into the Shoreline Mall shooting," Claire said. "It stands for 'Women of the World Properties', which owns the mall itself. Wait, isn't that what 'Femmes du Monde' translates to in English, women of the world? Is that why Andy chose Shoreline Mall that day?"

"We think so," Joey replied. "Here, read this, and then I'll answer any questions that I can for you."

Joey came into view again as he handed a printed page to Claire. She read and re-read it several times, pausing to wipe tears from her eyes several times.

"What did that bitch do to him?" Claire finally asked.

~~~

Claire's interrogation had switched to a recruiting opportunity for Joey, so Bobby instructed Jason to let Kris Acosta know that they were ready for her interrogation of Bianca Clary to commence. Jason made a call on his cell phone, and within a few minutes, the image on the display in the communications room changed.

Tyler and the other men in the room once more looked down from a ceiling-mounted camera, but the environment that they saw was starkly different. The walls and floor all appeared to be white tile and almost sterile in the evident cleanliness. The only furniture visible was a high-back adjustable chair, securely mounted to the floor; similar to one seen in a dentist's office.

The woman bound to the chair with straps around each arm and leg was dressed even more casually than Claire had been, or Tyler corrected, more casually undressed. The pretty young woman was completely naked as she looked around the room she was in, examining it with a look of defiance on her face.

"Has Cile arrived to observe?" Bobby asked Jason.

"Yes," answered Jason. "She has communications established with Kris so that she can feed her questions when the time comes."

"Then let's get started."

Jason spoke into his phone and within seconds, the audio feed from the room came through the speakers in the communication room. They heard a door out of view open and close, followed by footsteps. The person stopped out of the camera view.

"Quoniam tribulor," said a woman's voice.

The reaction from Bianca Clary was immediate and quite visible. Her body, which had denoted obvious tension, relaxed and a smile appeared on her face.

With her German accent obvious, Bianca said, "Et etiam habere cor meum sanguinem. How can I help you, Sister?"

"You already have," said the woman off-camera. "You just confirmed for me that you are a member of the Sororibus."

Bianca glared at her inquisitor, "And you are not? How did you know the greeting of sisters?"

"Let's give you your medication first, then I'll enlighten you with what I know while waiting for it to take effect."

Without waiting for a response, the woman approached the chair where Bianca Clary sat, walked behind it, and forcefully pulled Bianca's long black hair with one hand until it forced her head to tilt back. The woman used her other hand to pull a lever, which adjusted the seatback until Bianca was sitting at close to a fifty-degree angle in the chair.

Satisfied with Bianca's position, the woman released the lever and pulled a small bottle out of the breast pocket of her shirt. The cap on the bottle was unscrewed and the woman quickly stuck the tip into Bianca's left nostril and squeezed. Still holding tight to Bianca's hair so that she couldn't move her head, the woman repeated the dosage in Bianca's right nostril.

The woman held Bianca's head in place as she spoke, "The drops will take effect faster if we keep your head like this for a few minutes."

"What did you give me?" Bianca asked.

"You're a researcher," the woman said. "What say you figure it out on your own?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Right," the woman said, "I was going to enlighten you. We brought you here today so that you could share with us, all that you know about the plans of the Sororibus to launch the next Holocaust against the Jewish people."

"I'll tell you nothing," Bianca said. "I am loyal to my sisters."

"Now see, you're telling me something right there. Let's wait just a few more seconds, and then we'll get started on the real questions."

The woman remained silent as she stared down into Bianca's eyes, waiting for a sign that the psychoactive drug had begun to take effect.

"What did she give her?" Tyler asked.

"A variation of SP-117, which was a narcohypnotic developed by the KGB," said Jason. "Our version is far more reliable at altering higher cognitive functions and preventing a person from telling a lie."

They watched as the woman, apparently satisfied with what she saw in Bianca's eyes, released her hold on Bianca's hair and raised the chair back to get her sitting upright once more. The straps securing Bianca's arms were released, but those around her legs remained.

Bianca glanced down at her naked body as if realizing her condition for the first time. Her left hand dropped to cover her pubic region at the same time that her right arm attempted to cover her exposed breasts. The woman walked out of the camera view without commenting on Bianca's attempts at modesty.

"Please state your name," the woman's voice said.

"Bianca Rose Clary"

"Thank you, Bianca. Can you tell me where you were born and when?"

"Ich wurde am 19. Februar 2001 in Nürnberg geboren."

"Please answer all of my questions in English."

"I was born in Nuremberg on February 19, 2001."

"That makes you twenty-seven years old, correct?"

"Yes."

"When did you join the Sororibus?"

"I was invited to join the Sisterhood while at the Sorbonne. I have been a loyal sister for seven years."

"Do you hold a position of influence within the Sororibus?"

"I am not a matron, but I have the ear of several of them."

"You came to the United States three years ago, correct?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Biohybrids had won a research project to develop a new procedure for the treatment of male sex offenders. The sisters thought that my training in nanotechnology might be useful."

"When was it determined that the procedure being developed would be utilized as a weapon against Jewish men?"

"The Sisterhood is a gynocracy. Every three years a conclave is held where the matrons elect the next matriarch. At the last conclave, two years ago, it was learned that another sister had effectively identified a method to target specific genomes within a Jewish person's DNA. The decision was made to explore the possibility of using this discovery to finally eliminate the Jewish population from the Earth."

"Why would the Sororibus want to eliminate all the Jewish people from the Earth?"

"Jews are one of the historical enemies of the Knights Templar and the Sisterhood. During the Crusades, Jews frequently fought alongside Muslims, trying to prevent the Knights Templar from securing the Holy Land. After the Crusades, in Europe, Jews were the only people allowed to loan money to anyone. When the Sisterhood was formed to protect women associated with the Knights, we learned that the King of France and even the Pope himself were heavily indebted to the Jews, and this was how the Jews influenced the Knights Templar being disbanded, arrested, and charged with heresy or other crimes."

"I understand," the woman said. "Going back to your research project at Biohybrids, tell me about your clinical trials."

"Early last year, I was able to map the genome targeting methodology into the nanobots I had created for the sex offender project. I had been testing the nanobots on rats for months already, but they could not be used to validate the combined objectives. I received permission from the Matriarch herself to find and pay human males to be test subjects. The men would need to be of different races so that I could verify that the targeting would only work on those intended, which were the Jewish men."

"How many men were subjects in your tests, and how many of them were of Jewish heritage?"

"I tested eighteen men. One-third of those claimed to have the required Jewish heritage."

"And what were the results of your tests."

"The tests were one-hundred percent successful. All six Jewish men were chemically castrated and the non-Jewish men experienced no effects from the procedure at all."

"Is there any cure for your procedure or can the effects be reversed?"

"None and no. The non-surgical castration and ongoing pharmaceutical's release of targeting proteins are permanent."

"Where is all of your clinical data for the development and testing of this procedure kept?"

Tyler assumed this was a question that Cile was requesting to get posed to Bianca. She had yet to visit the Biohybrids lab, so knowing where the information was ahead of time would be useful.

"It is all stored in a file cabinet in the purchasing department at the Biohybrids lab. I wanted to protect the information, but I didn't want to keep anything electronic so, I hide all the paper documentation in a department unrelated to any of my research."

"What significance is a heart tattoo where your procedure or tests of it are concerned?"

"I tagged the Jewish participants with the symbol of the Sisterhood."

"Why?"

"I was proud of what I was developing for the Sisterhood, so I wanted to signify that in some small way."

"Was a man named Andrew Carmichael one of the men in your tests?"

"Yes, he was one of the Jewish men."

"What can you tell me about Andrew Carmichael?"

"An average looking man, nothing special there. He had an above-average intelligence though, and he is the only subject of my tests who ever suspected what had actually been done to him."

"Why do you think he suspected anything?"

"When I would call him in the days and weeks after the procedure to ask follow up questions about his condition, he would question me more than the others about his sudden lack of sexual desire and whether it might be a side effect of the Tay-Sachs cure that he thought we were testing. Apparently, his sex life with his girlfriend had been more active than the other test subjects, so he noticed things first. When he sensed my evasiveness to his questions, he started investigating things on his own. Then, when I called him for updates, I would use his own questions to taunt him about his sex life. I would see him parked outside my house for hours, and I'm sure that he broke into my house on more than one occasion. He would also follow me to the Biohybrids lab and watch the building while I was there."

"Did his suspicions concern you?"

"For a few months. Then, last January, he suddenly disappeared. I haven't seen or heard from him since then."

"You are admitting to successfully creating nanotechnology, paired with a genome targeting process that is intended to essentially sterilize Jewish men. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"How does the Sororibus plan to distribute or disperse your creation?"

"Through women."

"The Sororibus intends to infect Jewish men with your nanobots by using women?"

"Yes."

"How exactly?"

"The Matriarch herself suggested it, and two other sisters helped develop the plan."

"What exactly is the plan?"

"Embedding the nanotechnology I developed onto or into all feminine hygiene products through the sanitized paper they are packaged in. Our company, Femmes du Monde has already begun producing the processed paper in all of our facilities, which will cover more than eighty-seven percent of the feminine hygiene products manufactured for sale in Europe and the Middle East and thirty percent in North America. We have loyal sisters working to do the same in the paper production facilities not owned by us in Europe and elsewhere."

"Are you talking about tampons, sanitary pads, and such? How will embedding the nanobots onto these get them to the men? Men don't use those products."

"Transference, before and during sex with a woman. Once the treated paper comes in contact with the tampon, pad, or whatever it is wrapped around, the first transfer takes place. When the woman uses the item, the second transfer occurs. The nanobots will remain dormant within the Skene's and Bartholin glands. When the woman becomes aroused during sex, the mucus excreted by the glands will carry them to the man. That is the third and final transfer. Women of childbearing age will be used to sterilize the Jewish men that they have sex with."

"What is the timeline for this plan to be implemented?"

"It already has been. The first products are currently on their way to the normal distribution points for these products; grocery stores, drug stores, and so on. Everything is scheduled to be in place by the holiday."

"Which holiday?

"October 13^th. The founding holiday for the Sisterhood."

Jason spoke into his cell phone and within seconds, Tyler and the others heard his questions being asked.

"Who has the authority to change the plans?"

"The Matriarch would be the only individual who could change the plan. Other than her, the Council of Matrons would have to vote on it."

"Could you persuade the Matriarch to change the plans?"

"No, not by myself."

"What is the name of the Matriarch for the Sororibus?"

"Emily Fredette."

Bobby turned to JR and said, "Text Rockie and ask her to start looking for anything she can find on this Emily Fredette."

"Where does she live?" asked the woman off-camera.

"At the commune for the Sisterhood outside of Montastruc-la-Conseillère."

"Is she always there or does she travel?"

"She is either there or at the Sisterhood's villa in Sète."

"What makes her decide on one location versus the other?"

"Weather mostly. The Matriarch is very athletic. She wants to be someplace where she can enjoy outdoor activities."

"It is late summer in France. Which location would she choose?"

"The villa in Sète. She can enjoy the water activities."

"Unless Cile has anything else right now," Bobby said, "let this Bianca rest for a few hours. Kris still has plenty of the drug if we need to ask more questions?"

"She has more than enough," Jason assured him.

"JR, please update Rockie so that she can adjust her data search accordingly. It would be nice to start gathering digital evidence of this project and the communications among the Sororibus members related to their plans."

"Will do," JR said as he stood and left the room.

"Good. Now if the rest of you will all excuse me; I'm going to need the room for a conversation with the President and the rest of his National Security team."

Chapter Eighteen

"The Israelis don't mess around, do they?" Tyler said.

"It's better to be respected and feared than admired and revered," Bobby said.

Within eighteen hours of the President of the United States speaking with the Prime Minister of Israel, Emily Fredette had been apprehended by agents of the Mossad. Three hours after that all members of the Sororibus had been instructed by the Matriarch to do whatever was necessary to recall the feminine hygiene products tainted with the nanobots.

Cile and her team had stormed the Biohybrid lab Sunday evening. The documentation on the project was easily located just where Bianca had told them it would be. Bianca Clary might have been instrumental in developing and planning for what would have been the world's worst terrorist event, but she did keep meticulous records.

By early Monday morning, federal agents were raiding four additional labs in the United States that were being used to produce the nanobots, and six paper processing plants where the application of the nanotechnology was being conducted, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police didn't have any labs to raid, but they did have three paper processing plants involved, that they too shut down. Their counterparts around the globe were likewise closing any paper processing plants until it could be verified that the paper from the plants was clean of the nanobots.

"Do we know if any of the products made it onto any store shelves?" Katie asked.

While she still didn't want to know anything about the gunman himself, Bobby and Tyler both thought that Katie should know about the plans that the Sororibus had formulated, and how this had been the motivation for the gunman's actions that day. The man had gone to the mall that day expecting to die, so Katie had nothing to feel remorseful about.

"According to the records that Bianca Clary kept," Jason said, "all the paper produced so far has been sent to only one manufacturer of feminine hygiene products. Items wrapped in that paper have been shipped to five distributors around the world. Each has been contacted and confirmed that no inventory received within the last two months has been sold by them. They all had an existing inventory of the products that they were selling off first."

"We can't trust the lot numbers as an indicator of which items might be tainted," JR said. "Everything in those five distribution centers will need to be destroyed unless we come up with a way to test for the presence of the nanobots."

"We don't need to test for the nanobots," said Katie. "We can test for the targeting proteins. If they are present on the paper, then we can assume the nanobots are present too."

"I knew there was a reason that I claimed you as my kid sister," JR teased. "That's an excellent idea. Ordinary urine test strips will detect the proteins."

"Are you sure?" asked Bobby?"

"It's easy enough to verify," Katie said. "Have someone at one of the paper processing plants run to the nearest drug store and pick up a pack of universal urine test strips. A portion of the suspect paper may need to be moistened for the test strip to get a reading from it, but if there are any proteins there, the strip should indicate them."

"I'm on it," Jason said, picking up his cell phone to make a call.

They had their answer within ten minutes. One of the federal agents at the paper processing plant Jason had called was carrying Chemstrip brand urine test strips to monitor his Type 2 diabetes, so he was able to test the paper there immediately. The blue-green pad on the strip lit up almost instantly after touching the treated paper, indicating the presence of protein.

"Have the same test run at the other locations," Bobby instructed. "Make sure they run the same test on some untainted paper as well. I don't want to give the President or the Israelis false hope of being able to detect the tainted items."

When Jason picked up his cell phone again, Katie spoke to her dad, "Do you need Tyler and me over the next few hours? We drive back to California tomorrow, so I wanted to show him around a bit."

"That's fine, just keep your cell phones on in case anything comes up that I want to ask one of you about."

Tyler rose from his chair as Katie leaned over and kissed her father on his cheek. She met Tyler at the door, which he held open for her to exit first.

"Quite the interesting weekend," Tyler said while allowing Katie to take his hand and lead the way.

"I would like to tell you that this is a rarity here, but it isn't," Katie said. "I can't tell you how many times growing up, the family had to put something on hold so that my dad, Uncle Jason or both could deal with a critical event like this."

Katie led them to the stairway for the garage access, "I want to show you at least three places before we leave."

"Which are?" Tyler asked.

"We'll go by Rick's first," Katie told him as they reached the SSR. "You drive."

Tyler nodded and then walked with Katie around to open the door for her. He then returned to the driver's side and got in beside her.

"Rick's is open twenty-four hours a day, but it's early, so there won't be much going on. All I really want to show you there anyway is my Corvette, and let you drive it if you want to."

"I'm looking forward to finally seeing your car, but I think that today, I would prefer to sit beside you and watch you drive it. That's an image I have had in my mind for weeks; the Angel behind the wheel of that car."

Katie laughed and said, "I can do that for you. Turn right when you get to the corner."

Tyler followed Katie's directions and asked, "What else after Rick's?"

"Downtown San Antonio. You need to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk, or no one will believe that you've ever been here."

"Mandatory tourist events," Tyler said with a laugh. "Got it. Then what?"

"I'll show you the legendary 'Ghost Tracks' of San Antonio."

"Ghost tracks?" Tyler asked. "Do I want to see them?"

Katie pulled a heavy blanket from behind her seat and showed it to Tyler before putting it back.

"I think you'll want to see us making love at this secluded little spot I know of right by the Ghost tracks."

"Yes," Tyler chuckled, "that I would definitely like to see.

~~~

"Why were you so adamant about which side of the picnic blanket was up versus down?" Tyler asked as he carried it into the laundry room at the house.

Katie laughed as she prepared the washer for the load, "Anyone who has grown up around here will tell you, if you want to have a picnic, or do something else on the ground," she winked, "your blanket had better be heavily treated on one side with a pesticide containing DEET. You put that side down. It keeps the fire ants and chiggers away."

"Ahh," said Tyler with a chuckle. "I'm glad my first romp in the wilderness was with someone in the know about such things."

Katie started the washer and then turned to kiss Tyler, "I'm glad your first time was with such a person too. Come on, since JR and Rockie have moved to their trailer, I want to show you my room."

Tyler accompanied Katie as she climbed the stairs, "Where are your parents?"

"I haven't a clue. Maybe at Jason and Franc's place, maybe at Rick's, maybe just out to dinner. I told them that we would fend for ourselves tonight. Is leftover tuna casserole okay with you?"

"Sure."

"Well, here are," Katie said as she opened the door to a room. "This is the place where all of my dreams originated."

Tyler let Katie enter first and then followed. The bedroom was approximately fifteen feet by twenty feet. It didn't have a gender-specific theme to its style of décor, but Tyler could see touches of Katie in many areas. There was a queen-size bed with an oak headboard, matching side tables, an oak dresser with a mirror atop it, a large student desk under the window, a bookcase that contained mostly framed photos and several trophies, a leather recliner and an oak armoire.

Tyler walked to the large window over the student desk, opened the blinds and looked out. The view was to the north and he could easily see the skyline of San Antonio in the distance to the northwest. There was another, smaller skyline visible to the northeast.

"What town is that?" he asked.

Katie looked where Tyler was pointing and said, "That's Seguin. It's a pretty little town along the banks of the Guadalupe River. We need to go there sometime. Having a house along the Guadalupe River is one of my dreams."

Tyler closed the blinds and looked around the room again.

"All your dreams originated here, huh? How many of them came true here?"

"Not many," Katie admitted. "Some of my wildest fantasies also originated here, if you're interested."

"How many of your fantasies were fulfilled here?"

"Up until now, none."

"Is there anything I can do to remedy that?" Tyler asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Katie sat beside him and said, "Maybe you can make a dream or two come true here first, then we can move on to my fantasies."

"I'll always do my best to make all your dreams come true."

"As I will for you. Did you talk to my dad about what options might be available to you if you resigned from your job?"

"Yeah, we had some downtime while waiting for the interrogations to begin, so he and JR heard me out and provided some good suggestions. Did you have your talk with your mom?"

"Yes, and she made one particular suggestion that I want your opinion on."

"What's that?" Tyler asked.

"You heard Rockie mention at dinner the other night that JR was considering taking over the practice of a local veterinarian?"

"I remember."

"What would you think of me going in with JR and partnering with him in our own veterinary practice?"

"Would that make you happy?" Tyler asked.

"It would be a path to happiness for me," Katie said. "First, it would allow me to do something I love and I'm good at, but more importantly, it would allow me to do it while still being the wife and mother that I told you was my dream job."

"Then I think you should do it. No question about it."

"There's one very important question," Katie said. "Do any of the options that you discussed with my dad and JR provide you with something that you would be happy with if we moved here?"

"A couple of them do," Tyler said. "Your dad is confident that I would be welcomed at any number of federal law enforcement agencies, but maintaining a permanent assignment here could be a challenge. Going to work for Brandt Consulting is another option, but according to your dad, considerable travel would be required if I was based here. I could simply retire and live off my investments. You know that we could do that easily. But the option I am leaning towards is applying to join the Public Corruption Unit of the Texas Rangers."

"Do you know if they have any openings? I heard that the state legislature sets a limit on the number of Texas Rangers, so if they are at the maximum number, there wouldn't be a spot for you."

"JR mentioned that too. Your dad is confident that with my background, they will find a spot for me; even if the legislature has to meet in special session to approve an increase in the number of Rangers."

"Tyler, should we do this? Forget everything we had planned for our careers up to this point and go for our dreams instead?"

Tyler pulled Katie into an embrace and said, "I'm ready if you are. What's your next dream that we need to work on?"

"I always dreamed of a handsome boy making passionate love to me in this bed. He would be my one true love, and his kiss would change my life forever."

"I don't know if I can pull off the handsome boy part, but this future Texas Ranger would be honored to be your one true love."

~~~

"Maybe it's the appetite in me that you created, but I'm beginning to think that this tuna casserole is better reheated than fresh."

Katie giggled and said, "Maybe it's a little of both?"

"I know that it's hard to be specific at this point," Tyler said, "but we should try to put some target timeline together. Things like when I should give notice of my resignation, when you would be able to join with JR in the practice, those sorts of things."

"You're right. I would like to remain in California through the end of the year because my family has traditionally spent the Christmas holiday there so our grandparents could participate."

"That's only a few months away, so I don't see any problem with that," Tyler said.

"Here's an idea. How about if we invite your parents and Taylor to join us here for Thanksgiving? Our families could meet each other and you and I could start looking for where we wanted to live."

"That is a good idea, but the only choice as to where we want to live will involve finding a spot along the Guadalupe River for your dream home."

"You're the best!" Katie said. "Do you think your parents will be okay with spending Thanksgiving here? I can rent a plane so they won't have to drive or anything. Or, my dad may want to use his plane to fly out and get us all."

"I'm sure that I can talk them into coming here, and if needed, I'll get Taylor to do it."

"On another subject, are you okay with getting married here at the house?" Katie asked.

"Once again, I'll defer to your judgment on that. I have no idea about what the weather is like here at the beginning of June, or what would be needed to arrange everything. I'll focus on planning the honeymoon."

"What do you have in mind there?" Katie asked.

"I'm leaning towards one of my own dreams. I've always wanted to take a world cruise, and doing so with you would be ideal. What do you think?"

"Book it!" Katie exclaimed. "All those days at sea with nothing to do but make love to you? The perfect honeymoon!"

Tyler laughed, "Consider it done."

Someone's cell phone was ringing. Tyler checked his and answered.

"Hello?"

"Tyler, this is Jason. I just heard that the DNA results on Alfaro and his parents prove that they are not related. I thought that you would want to know."

"Hang on a second, Jason. I want to put you on speaker so Katie can hear."

Tyler hit the speaker icon on his screen and then set the phone on the table.

"Okay," Tyler said, "the DNA results prove that Alfaro is not related to the couple that he claimed to be his parents. Have we found out if he was adopted by them?"

"Sorry," Jason said, "I forgot to mention that. Our check with the Mexican authorities found no record of Alfaro being adopted. His birth parents are listed as Hector and Rosarita Nunez, and they are both alive and well. They live just outside of Culiacan. Hector is well known to the authorities as a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel."

"Now that's interesting," Tyler said. "It might explain some of the Alfaro's positions on drug enforcement in California. His real father might be influencing him."

"I was thinking the same thing," said Jason. "I have asked some people I know at the DEA to look into it, but we're not waiting on their response to move on Alfaro. The United States Attorney General will be speaking with the Governor of California in the morning. He will be informed that we have Alfaro dead-to-rights on immigration fraud, and then be offered the opportunity to deal with Alfaro himself, or to let the FBI and Immigration Enforcement do it. There will also be a few political incentives offered to the governor for him to issue a preemptive pardon to the unnamed mystery woman who shot the gunman at the Shoreline Mall. That will prevent whoever replaces Alfaro from also pursuing the search."

"The pardon will definitely end all legal investigations, but it won't stop the media or others from continuing to try and identify the Shoreline Angel," Tyler said.

"I agree," said Jason. "Rockie is compiling the false identity for a person whose name will be released in a few months. She will be identified as an undercover federal agent that gets killed in the line of duty. Probably by a bomb or in another way that renders her remains unrecognizable. We want the timing of that to be a few months after the pardon so that revealing the woman's details when we do won't raise any suspicions."

"So, the Shoreline Angel will be pardoned and killed off," said Katie. "If that doesn't put this to rest, I don't know what will. Thanks, Uncle Jason"

"My pleasure, Katie-kins. Talk to you guys later."

Tyler disconnected the call and looked at Katie.

"What were we talking about?"

"Our honeymoon. Our perfect honeymoon."

Tyler laughed, "You sound anxious. That's a good thing."

"I am anxious," Katie said, "About a lot of things. Marrying you and going on our honeymoon cruise around the world is farther down the list. Let's start with when we get back to California. Do you want to move into the condo with me?"

"Sweetie, there is nothing I would love more than to start playing house with you," Tyler said. "What do you want to do about the condo that Taylor and I have leased?"

"Ask your parents if I can buy the furniture already in it. That way Cile won't have to buy anything when she moves in."

"Cile is moving into it?"

"We've discussed it. Her job allows her to live almost anywhere. When you and I move here, she would be there to still help my grandparents. She's ready to move as soon as the condo is available. Are you okay with that?"

"Of course," Tyler said. "I think it would be great to have Cile around. She would be there to help you plan our wedding while your mom and aunt are here to help with the details that need local attention."

"Good point."

"I'm assuming that you were going to ask Cile to be your maid of honor."

Katie laughed, "We agreed to be each other's maid of honor when we were nine years old. Asked and answered. Who are you going to ask to be your best man?"

"I'm not sure. Us guys don't generally plan things out years in advance like you ladies do. I'll find someone though."

"Keep Cile in mind when deciding on someone. The maid of honor and best man have to be able to work together."

"Right. Someone who doesn't ask inappropriate questions, isn't intimidated by a smart, beautiful woman, and someone who can put up with her whacky sense of humor. I'm screwed."

Epilog

Cile checked the time again as she arrived at the correct gate at the D/FW airport. There were still forty minutes before her connecting flight from Dallas to San Antonio was ready to board. Looking at a map of the airport, Cile saw that there was an American Airlines Admiral's Club just a few gates down the concourse. That would provide her with a more comfortable environment to await the boarding call.

After showing her membership card to the receptionist at the Admiral's Club, Cile went in search of a quiet place to sit and wait for her flight. The area around the bar was naturally crowded, and the privacy cubicles were all occupied by Road Warriors, their laptops, and their cell phones. It took her a few minutes to find a chair along the glass windows that provided a view of the airport runways and a few of the jetways. The activities on the other side of the glass could be a distraction, but no more than one of the television sets around the club, blathering out some news programming.

Cile settled into one of two chairs separated by a small round table and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She sensed a presence a few feet away that drew her attention. When she looked up, she saw a man about nine feet away seated and searching through his backpack.

Cile had seen her share of attractive men, and frequently, they were the only ones who had the confidence to approach her. At first glance, this man would not qualify for the league that most of her suitors traveled in. He wore glasses with dark frames, had unkempt hair, a plain button-down white shirt, and most importantly, he hadn't noticed her. Yet, something about him had made her notice his presence.

A waitress appeared, delivering a bowl of mixed nuts to the table in front of Cile, and then to the man. The waitress returned and asked if Cile wanted anything to drink besides the bottled water obvious on the table, but Cile declined. The man likewise declined anything to drink and focused on the tablet now in his hands.

Cile played a few hands of Solitaire on her phone, checked e-mails, and sent a few work-related text messages before she heard the pre-boarding announcement for her flight. She hadn't noticed the man leave, but she did notice his absence now. Gathering up her empty water bottle and purse, Cile headed for her gate. The first-class section would be boarding soon.

By the time that Cile had reached the gate again, first-class boarding was underway, so she walked directly to the agent who was scanning tickets for boarding. The jetway was hot and clammy, as was typical at this airport during the summer, but fortunately, the line in front of her was short and she was on board with only a few beads of sweat on her upper lip.

Her window seat in first class was waiting for her, but the aisle seat next to it was already occupied. As the passenger standing in the aisle took his seat in the row behind, Cile saw that the man from the Admiral's Club was her traveling companion.

"Excuse me, I'm in 4A," Cile said.

Without looking at her or commenting, the man slowly rose and stepped into the aisle to allow Cile to take her seat.

"Thank you," she said as she slid past him.

No response.

Cile placed her purse under the seat in front of her, fastened her seatbelt, and tried to study her seatmate through the corner of her eye. He had retaken his seat and fastened his seatbelt before retrieving his tablet from the pocket in the seatback in front of him.

"Hi, I'm Celia Reid," she said, "but my friends call me Cile."

"I'm pleased to meet you," the man said without taking his eyes off the tablet.

"How rude!" Cile thought. "Not even introducing himself..."

"Are you traveling to San Antonio for business or pleasure?" she asked.

"Neither."

"Are you from the Dallas area or are you connecting from somewhere else?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions," the man said, still not looking at her. "I started out in Los Angeles this morning."

"Oh, I'm from Southern California too. Well, not originally, but I am living in Orange County currently. I flew in from John Wayne airport myself."

The man didn't reply.

The flight attendant was coming around taking drink requests before take-off. When her turn came, Cile asked, "Do you have any sparkling lemonade? I would really enjoy the effervescent citrus flavor if you have it."

"I'm sorry, but we don't have that."

"Okay, maybe just some bottled water then."

"Sure," the flight attendant said. "And you sir?"

Cile pulled out her cell phone and didn't pay attention to the man's request, or she would have heard, "Please bring me two ounces," he held his finger apart to demonstrate a quantity, "of lemon juice on the rocks, two packets of the sugar you use in your coffee service, and a can of club soda."

"I'll be happy to," said the flight attendant, "Thank you."

Within a few minutes, Cile was accepting her bottle of water. She set the unopened bottle on her tray and stared out the window of the plane.

"I'll trade you," said the man next to her.

"Excuse me?"

"I'll trade you my sparkling lemonade for your bottled water."

"Why would you do that?" she asked, staring at the man who had finally turned his face towards her.

Cile was frustrated that the glare on his glasses prevented her from seeing his eyes clearly. She had a strange feeling that she needed to see this man's eyes.

"Because I can. Your request was simple enough for anyone with the initiative to fulfill it."

"And why did you have that initiative when our flight attendant didn't?" Cile asked.

The man laughed and said, "Oh, the great mysteries of life. So, do you want to trade?"

Cile was sitting, yet she somehow felt weak in the knees listening to his laugh. She handed him her bottled water without saying another word and accepted the glass of lemonade that he had made for her.

They sat silently until after the plane had taken off. The sparkling lemonade had been surprisingly refreshing for Cile, but it was the unselfishness of the act of this stranger that had impressed her the most.

"I don't think I caught your name," Cile said. There, ignore that!

The man finally glanced away from his tablet and looked at Cile, "My friends call me Toby."

"And what do others call you?" she asked.

"To my face, Professor. Probably S.O.B. behind my back."

Cile shifted in her seat so that she could examine this man more directly. He couldn't be older than thirty and was probably closer to her age of twenty-six.

"Are you an associate professor somewhere?" she asked

"I am a physics professor," he said, once more focused on his tablet.

"I work for the US Department of Health and Human Services. Do you teach anywhere that I may have heard of?"

"Again, with all the questions," he said, this time with a chuckle in his tone.

"You obviously haven't flown much on commercial aircraft," Cile teased. "If you had, you would know that there is always that one passenger who will drive you crazy with questions. Well, on this flight that person is me." Deal with it, she thought.

The truth was, Cile was not that person. She was struggling to understand herself why she was being such a "Curious Nelly" where this man was concerned. She had an almost instinctive need to know more about him.

Toby placed the tablet into the pocket of the seatback in front of him and said, "I am a professor in the Physics Department at the University of California at Los Angeles. What else would you like to know?"

"Why did you make me a sparkling lemonade?"

"I thought that I explained that," he said with a chuckle. "I made it because I could. I was annoyed at the lack of initiative displayed by the flight attendant when you made your request, so I wanted to show her that it was a simple matter of thinking outside of the box to provide a level of service that you deserved - that all passengers deserve."

"Well, I thought it was very gallant and chivalrous of you. Thank you, Professor."

"You're very welcome, Celia."

"So, what brings you to San Antonio, if not business or pleasure?"

"There's an event I am supposed to attend. It's sort of a family thing that I couldn't get out of."

"When do you return to Los Angeles? Maybe you and I can get together while you're in San Antonio and I could show you around. I grew up just outside the city and know all the best spots."

"Dear God!" Cile thought, "are you that desperate that you're now picking up strangers on an airplane?"

Sure, witnessing what her cousin Katie had found with Tyler had made Cile reevaluate her own choices in men, which had resulted in zero dates and complete celibacy for months, but she shouldn't be going off the deep end like this.

"My return flight is Sunday morning, and I'm sorry, but my calendar is full until then."

"Here's my card," Cile said, handing him a business card. "Maybe we can meet up back in Southern California."

"Holy fuck! What has gotten into you?" Cile's subconscious screamed at her. She never acted this way. She beat men off, she didn't pursue them, especially nerdy looking college professors.

Toby accepted the card and slid it into the pocket of his shirt. After a few seconds of apparent contemplation, he spoke.

"You're very beautiful Celia, and I doubt that we have very much in common..."

"Hold on Professor," Cile interrupted. "I don't know you, and you don't know me. Fine. I'm just going to put this out there, so listen up. For some unknow reason, I am drawn to you. I can accept that you might not feel the same way, but there it is. Fate or something has brought us together on this flight, and I think that you know that as well as I do. The question is, what do we do about it?"

Toby sat quietly for several minutes. The flight attendants were making announcements and preparing the plane for landing before he finally responded.

"Your interest in me is intriguing," Toby said. "Unbelievable, but intriguing. I'm not making any promises, but I'll keep your card. Maybe we can meet for drinks some time."

"I can live with that," Cile said as she reached over and squeezed Toby's hand.

Once the plane landed, Toby and Cile walked together through the concourse to the designated baggage claim for their flight.

"Are you renting a car, or is someone picking you up?" Cile asked as they stood at the carousel awaiting their bags.

"I'm supposed to be picked up here," Toby said.

"Me too. Here come the bags."

The luggage began sliding down one conveyor belt onto the turntable that distributed the bags to the waiting passengers. A crowd had naturally formed where the two belts met, so Cile and Toby stood off to one side, waiting for their bags to come to them.

Just as Toby's bag appeared in front of him, another passenger stepped up and blocked his access to it. Toby began following his bag around the carousel, trying to find an opening among the clustered passengers that would allow him to grab it.

Cile saw her bag and quickly retrieved it from the carousel, then started searching for any sight of Toby.

"Cile!"

Katie pulled her cousin into a hug before she had even turned fully around. That hug was followed immediately by one from Tyler.

"I see you have your bag," Tyler said. "Now we just have one more thing to pick up, and here he is."

Cile and Katie turned to see a blonde version of Tyler approaching them. His hair was stylishly unkempt, and his white button-down shirt was almost completely untucked from his pants. Cile gasped as she saw Toby without his glasses for the first time. God, he was gorgeous!

"Katie, Cile, I would like to introduce my cousin and best man, Tobias Davis. Toby, this is my fiancée, Katie, and her maid of honor, Cile."

Cile just smiled and shook the hand that Toby was offering to her.

"It looks like I am going to be seeing a lot of you while I'm here," Toby said.

"It looks that way," Cile agreed.

"Come on," Katie said to Cile. "Let's visit the restroom while Tyler brings the car around."

"Toby and I will take the luggage to the car and drive around to the curbside pick-up," Tyler told them. "Just make sure that we're the ones who pick up you lovely ladies."

Cile shrugged and handed the handle of her bag to Toby, who accepted it with a smile. The two women walked across the baggage claim area to the restrooms while Tyler and Toby headed for the parking lot exit.

"So, what do you think of Cile?" Tyler asked his cousin as they walked.

"She's beautiful and intriguing, without question..."

"I sense a 'but' coming," Tyler said.

"Not necessarily a 'but'. I'm just curious if she always has that slight glow around her?"