Miriam was crying now, the tears rolling down her finely carved cheeks. “So is this the end, then?”
Sam nodded solemnly, “I’m afraid so,” he said, then took her in his arms and held her tightly, feeling her shoulders heave as she silently wept.
After a long moment, she lifted her head and rested her nose against his, then they kissed for a long time.
Eventually, reluctantly, they parted. “Will I ever see you again?” She breathed.
Sam could not look at her for fear of saying the words. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “But please be happy, no matter what.”
“And Vas? Will you not see him either?” She snivelled.
“I think for the moment, until he properly heals, it’s better that he comes with me. There might be too much heat around here at the moment for either of us - but I’ll send him back to you as soon as it’s safe, I promise.”
Miri sniffed. “America?” She asked.
“Mmm,” for the immediate future, I think. But not for long.”
“Will you call me on Christmas Day?” Her voice was heavy with sadness but more resigned now. “I’m working right through to New Year, but I’m off until ten on Christmas Morning - promise you’ll call me then - If I can’t see either of you then it would be the best present I could hope for.”
Sam’s smile was wistful as he stroked her hair and drank in her wonderful scent, thinking about a Christmas spent without her. It was only a couple of weeks away but it already felt like a lifetime. “Of course I will,” he said.
***
Vas, completely worn out from the torturous hours spent as Finch’s captive, slept all the way through until 8 o’clock the following morning. He was feeling very sore but much better physically thanks to his long rest.
Over breakfast, Sam presented the plan to his friend.
Initially, Vas was more difficult to convince than Miri as he was still eager to help Sam in any way possible - even after what he had been through in the last twenty-four hours. However, when Sam pointed out all the potential hazards he at last saw the sense of it.
With Vas finally on side, it was decided that he and Sam should head for New Hampshire on the next available flight, so whilst Miri readied herself for work, Sam set about phoning the airline.
Making two separate calls to make two separate reservations, so they would not be seen to be travelling together, Sam reserved two seats on the evening flight out of Heathrow to New York - his ticket booked under the name of ‘Ryder’ as Sam Beresford was still supposedly living a reclusive life in The States.
By the time he had secured both tickets, it was time for Miri to leave for work, knowing that when she returned home that night, after her shift, they would be gone.
Miri hugged Vas and gave him a peck on both cheeks as was the French way. “Change the bandages and wash your wounds regularly,” she said, “using a good disinfectant - Sam will help you if you can’t manage.”
“Yes, Mum,” Vas replied, supporting himself on a crutch Miri had previously bought home for Sam. “I promise.”
“And I will let you know as soon as things have calmed down,” she continued. “I’ll tell Simon and your tutors that your father has been taken ill and you’ve flown to Russia to be with—“
“Yes, Miri - I know. Don’t fuss, we’ve been through this,” Vas protested.
“Yes, well, I know. Just making sure that’s all - and don’t forget to call me on Christmas Morning,” she replied.
“No, we won’t. I promise.”
“Good. Anyway, I’ll see you in the New Year - au revoir, Mon’Amie,” she said at last, “and take care.”
She kissed her friend on the both cheeks again then turned to Sam, the pain of his parting already showing in her teary eyes.
She stared at him for a moment, her bottom lip quivering as she tried to summon the words but they would not come; the ache in her heart almost unbearable, knowing that she might never see this man - the undoubted love of her life - ever again.
“Well, looks like this is it,” he said, his voice husky with emotion as he stared at her, the words utterly inadequate to express what he so desperately felt.
Then, choking with sadness, and unable to speak, Miri flung herself at him. Sam caught her in his arms as their mouths locked together and her tongue found his; her hands clutching the side of his face as he held her tightly in a loving embrace.
Vas looked on agog as the pair of them kissed for many seconds in a way that was most definitely not platonic.
Finally, with tears streaming down her face, Miri broke away and turned to pick up her coat. “Stay safe my love,” she croaked, as she opened the door. “Bon chance.”
Then, without looking back, she said, “Goodbye chéri.”
And with that the door closed behind her and she was gone.
The two men stared after her in silence for a moment, looking at the blank space where a few seconds before, Miri had stood.
Then, still shocked by seeing his two friends kiss so passionately, Vas said, “Wow! Well, it seems I missed quite a bit while I was out!”
***
The taxi taking them to the station arrived an hour or so later and after Vas had hobbled out onto the small landing with the aid of the stick, Sam followed him and shut the door behind them, making sure to hear the click of the latch on the other side.
A minute or so later they were in the taxi heading for the railway station and a train that would take them onto Heathrow.
By morning they would be in New York from where it was just a short trip to Portsmouth and home.
Miri, meanwhile, would be in Cambridge alone.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Emma Coyle puckered her lips in the mirror to re-apply her lipstick. She looked sensational in her gold, silk evening gown which clung to her shapely curves in all the right places.
A month earlier, whilst out shopping, she had noticed Chief Superintendent Graham Smart, Roper’s sixty-two year old superior, staring cluelessly into a jeweller’s window. Never one to miss an opportunity to advance her husband’s career, she purposely wandered over, pretending not to be looking where she was going, and ‘accidentally’ bumped into him.
They got to talking and Emma soon discovered he was out looking for an anniversary present for his wife. She also noticed him admiring her breasts whenever he thought she was not looking - which was something she could definitely use to her advantage.
So, sensing an opportunity, she pushed out her ample cleavage, in what was a very tight-fitting top, adopted an extremely flirtatious, overtly tactile manner, and offered to help him find a suitable gift.
Emma could tell by the lustful look in his eyes every time she teasingly brushed her impressive breasts against him that he was completely under her spell, so when they had bought the gift she just happened to mention how hungry she was - dangling the hook and waiting for him to bite which, of course, he duly did.
Indeed, he swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
Flattered by her attentions and seizing the opportunity to spend more time with her, Graham immediately took the bait and tentatively asked if he might take her to lunch by way of a ‘thank you’.
Proud of how well her little scheme had worked, Emma gladly accepted and Graham drove her to an out-of-the-way little pub in the country for an intimate lunch for two. Over the meal, whilst pretending to hang on his every word, she stared deeply into his eyes and emphasised how grateful she would be if he would take a personal interest in her husband’s career.
Smart was very nearly drooling with desire, his voice catching in his throat as he hesitantly asked “How grateful?” She responded by leaning over and brushing his cheek with her lips, purposely letting the full weight of her bosoms press down on his hands which were placed flat on the table in front of him.
“Very,” she s
aid.
Emma knew she should have left it there, but curiosity got the better of her and, with an eye to the main chance, was keen to see just how far her feminine wiles would take her - or more accurately, just how far they could take her husband. Although Roper would surely have killed her had he known of her scheming.
Nevertheless, that first meeting with Smart, which ended with just the briefest of kisses and a very swift grope as he dropped her back at her car, had since led to a series of clandestine meetings and secretive phone calls in which Emma had played her hand to perfection.
She had teased and flirted and kept him dangling for almost four weeks with only so much as a couple of hand jobs in the front seat of his Jaguar to keep his interest finely piqued.
And they certainly did the job.
So much so, in fact, that he was totally besotted by her beguiling charms and had abandoned almost all his self-respect in his pursuit of her.
What is more, he was more than ready to do anything Emma asked of him in return for the promise of something more - a night together in a hotel, a weekend away - anything which would allow him to taste the bounteous fruits she had so far denied him.
But Emma was a keen tactician. There was much she craved and her ambitions knew no bounds, yet there was one thing she wanted above anything else, which was for her and Roper to return to London as soon as possible.
So before she let a pot-bellied, balding sixty-two year old with saggy flesh and a bony little penis sleep with her, she needed to be certain he was going to deliver on his promises.
By now, she’d had more than enough of life in provinces; Cambridge whilst pleasant and peaceful was far from the cut and thrust of London. Indeed, Emma likened herself to a beautiful flower that was wilting from a lack of sunshine; the role of suburban housewife to a lowly Detective Sergeant in a regional police force no longer fulfilling her needs. What she wanted more than anything was to return to the capital where she felt Roper’s promotional trajectory through the ranks would only be a matter of time - her target of him becoming Chief Superintendent by the time he was forty still well within his grasp. But not if they stayed in Cambridge.
With this in mind, she had made Smart the promise of a blow job upon securing Roper a transfer back to the Metropolitan Police. Once the paperwork was signed and the move finalised, she would then spend one night with him at a five-star hotel of her choosing where she would allow the old letch to do with her as he pleased.
That was the deal. No transfer, no sex.
She did not consider this as being particularly unfaithful and preferred to think of herself as merely resourceful. Indeed, she still loved Roper and liked being his wife. After all, he was handsome, intelligent and very good at his job. Furthermore, all her friends fancied him - which gave her a gratifying sense of superiority over them.
It was just that every now and again Roper needed a little nudge, that’s all, and even though he did not aspire to being much more than a better than average policeman, she had ambition in spades.
Needless to say, Chief Superintendent Smart gladly agreed to her proposal; the idea of her plump young lips encircling his ageing manhood occupying his every thought as he set about securing exactly what she wanted.
In fact, Smart received confirmation of Roper’s transfer just an hour or so before he was due to attend the Annual Policeman’s Christmas Charity Gala, held in the glamorous ballroom of the prestigious Riverside Marriot.
Both Roper and Emma were in attendance and Smart had been surreptitiously watching them since his arrival. He was with his wife of thirty years who with age had become grey and thick around the girth. In comparison, Emma looked like a blonde goddess and Graham could not wait to catch her on her own to give her the news; his manhood already stiffening at the thought of claiming his reward.
Finally, when the meal was over and the dancing was underway, Smart saw Emma heading out of the ballroom on her own. Quickly he made his excuses to those he was talking to and raced after her.
He caught up with her in the foyer, just before she reached the ladies toilets and in a whisper persuaded her to meet him outside by his car.
Emma waited a few moments so as not to arouse suspicion as he hurried off ahead of her, then joined him as requested beside his shiny new Jag outside in the car park.
They were alone, all the other revellers inside as he grinned at her, the moonlight shining on his balding pate.
“Well?” She asked, her nipples springing erect in the frosty air and becoming immediately visible under the figure-hugging silk of her gown, “What’s so important?”
“I’ve done it, Emma,” he replied, admiring her wondrous form, his face resembling that of an excited puppy.
“Done what exactly?”
“Secured your husband’s transfer, my darling, just as you asked me to.”
“You have? Wow! That’s wonderful Graham,” she exclaimed, leaning in and pecking him on the lips. “And he won’t know that I had anything to do with it?”
“Of course not, my dear. It will be our little secret, just as we agreed.” Smart replied, conspiratorially tapping the side of his nose with his forefinger.
“How resourceful of you,” cooed Emma, thrilled by the news. “What a marvellous Christmas present, thank you.”
“Yes, I thought you’d be pleased,” he nodded eagerly, “The paperwork should come through in about a month and you should be heading back to London sometime in January I would imagine.”
“Wow!” She said again. “So soon - I had not expected—“
“I’m so glad that you like your Christmas present, my darling,” he interrupted.
“I do, Graham. I really do - you’ve done exactly as I asked - you clever boy!”
“Good,” Smart grinned lasciviously, “So now how’s about you giving me my Christmas present?”
Emma gave a coy smile, knowing precisely what he was eluding to; the sight of his pathetic little penis straining to be unleashed from his black dress trousers almost making her laugh. “What here?” She teased.
“Why not?” He said, his voice suddenly thick with lust as he opened the rear door of his luxury motor car. “The seats are comfortable and the heater will keep us nice and warm. I’m sure it will not take you long.”
‘No, I’m sure it won’t’ She thought.
Emma remembered with amusement how quickly he had ejaculated previously, when all she had used was her hand, so was confident that with her mouth she could be so much more efficient.
She glanced around sheepishly to make sure they were completely alone. He had earned a little reward and the champagne at dinner had loosened her inhibitions - indeed, it had made her feel decidedly naughty. “Sure, darling, why not. I did promise - and it is Christmas after all,” she giggled.
***
Six minutes later Emma was back inside, standing in front of the mirror in the Ladies Room re-applying her lipstick - her ‘lover’ having shot his bolt the moment she took him in her mouth. So much for needing the heater to warm her - he was finished before it even got started.
She giggled at the thought. Of course, she would still have the night in the hotel to contend with once the transfer papers came through as was the final part of their deal.
However, if that little episode in the car was anything to go by then sex with Smart would only be a minor chore and he was sure to be snoring soundly by midnight.
Then, by way of a bonus, after making good on her part of the bargain, she would get to spend the night in the lap of luxury.
She looked at the clock on the wall as she snapped the lid back on her lipstick and dropped it into her gold lamé evening purse, noting that it had been less than ten minutes since she left the ballroom.
She smiled wickedly. Roper would not suspect a thing and his transfer would come as a complete surprise.
What a clev
er girl she was.
***
Roper was too shocked to notice his wife’s temporary disappearance from the ballroom and completely oblivious to her scheming infidelity in the back seat of the Chief Superintendent’s Jaguar.
Indeed, he was still reeling from the news Jeff Grainy had just told him and could not think about anything other than that.
Roper had been standing by the bar when Grainy came up to him and offered to buy him a drink.
Officially, Jeff was Coyle’s boss but in reality, since working together, they had become pretty good friends, so Roper gratefully accepted the drink and the two of them duly propped up the bar whilst enjoying their pints.
After a few more drinks, Grainy told Roper what he had been trying to tell him for a few days. News which he, himself, had only learnt a couple of weeks earlier and the momentous decision he had made as a result of it.
Roper was shocked to hear that Jeff’s father had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. As such, with his mother too frail to cope on her own, he would be taking an unspecified leave of absence to take care of them both.
Grainy was originally from Northamptonshire and had already been granted a transfer to the Northants Constabulary so that in the event of his father’s passing, he could remain close to his mum.
It was very sudden but because of the circumstances his transfer had been pushed through quickly and his leave agreed with immediate effect.
As such, the Gala was Grainy’s last official function as a member of the Cambridge Constabulary. Tomorrow the removal company would be taking his belongings to a rented lock-up in Northampton until such a time when he needed them again.
With regard to Roper, Grainy informed him that his new D.I. would apparently arrive sometime in the New Year but until then he was going to be temporarily in charge.
Little did Coyle know that he, too, would be moving on before January was done.
Nevertheless, he shook Grainy’s hand and wished him all the best and the two of them toasted each other’s health.
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