by Robert Graf
Doug’s funeral was that afternoon. She should attend but couldn’t face the prospect of dealing with others’ grief. She felt the walls closing in on her. She needed Alex. She retrieved her phone, selected his code and prayed.
At the sound of his sleepy "Hello?" her heart jumped into her throat. She tried to sound cheerful. "Good morning, sleepy head."
His tired face appeared. "Ann, where are you?"
"Home, where are you?"
"Not in Houston? I'm at our favorite motel. I got in late, ate a quick meal then went straight to bed." He yawned. "I'm so glad you called. I've been following the news about the ship. There was one brief clip showing you at the Space Center, though it just mentioned who you were."
"I can tell you all about it over dinner."
His eyes widened in surprise. “You’d come up here?"
Please don't have other plans. "If I leave now we can have dinner at your favorite Mexican restaurant."
"I'd love that, but it's a long drive." He thought a moment. "I'll try and get tomorrow off."
She nearly cried, she was so relieved. "I'm leaving as soon as I hang up."
"I'm in room 216. Oh, there's some roadwork around Lake Shasta, but it's Sunday so I don't expect you'll have any delays, at least not long ones. Drive carefully."
Ian didn’t answer, so she left voicemail: "I'm taking two days off. I need to think. Don't try and contact me."
Was she making a fool of herself? Maybe, but she didn't care. It felt right.
[Sunday, Yreka]
The sun was touching the western mountains when Ann turned into the familiar Best Western lot and parked. She stretched her stiff shoulders and inhaled. A light cool breeze brought the scent of damp brush from the nearby hills. Taking her bag, she locked the car and climbed the stairs. A note was taped to 216’s door, and her heart plummeted.
Relief flooded through her as she read: Moved to 220, A. She hurried four doors down the balcony and knocked. With a click the door opened and there stood Alex with a big grin, his plaid shirt hanging outside worn jeans. She dropped her bag, flung her arms around him and kissed him hard. He staggered back, hugged her, and they kissed a long time. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his pounding heart. "I'm so glad to be here."
"I wanted to call, but I knew you were in no position to chat. Close the door, we don't want the neighbors to talk."
She looked up into his twinkling eyes and smiled. "Don't we?”
He laughed, closing the door. "Later, after we eat. I'm starved, and I suspect so are you. I've made reservations so we can go as soon as you clean up"
Her stomach growled in agreement. "I need a quick shower and a change of clothes." She gave him a quick kiss, walked into the bathroom and pulled off her blouse.
"So long as I can watch," he answered, following her.
She dropped the blouse on the floor, sat on the toilet and pulled off her pants. She slowly stood and stepped out of her panties, all the while watching him watch her. A warm glow spread in her middle at the gleam in his eyes. She unhooked her bra, dropped it on the floor. "Look, but don't touch," she teased stepping into the shower and shutting the door.
His face was a study in want and lust plus something else she couldn't identify, adoration? "You're a wanton woman, Ann Grey."
A little of her happiness fled at his words. Grey: She'd have to tell him, but not now. She hurried through the shower, keeping her hair dry as best she could since she forgot the shower cap. She finished and stepped out into a fluffy white towel Alex held. He wrapped it around her and began rubbing her dry. The feel of the towel and his hands nearly drove her to rip it off and have him right then and there. With great difficulty she controlled herself.
"You're making it very hard for me," he murmured.
She kissed him. "I can tell, now please, let me dress or we'll never get to eat." She took the towel from him and pushed him out the door. She dressed quickly, applied minimal makeup and donned shoes. She grinned into the mirror. He’d better like the blue undies.
"Let's take your car."
"Why not walk?"
"Remember last time?" he asked, clipping his holstered pistol on his waistband at his back. "It's not worth the risk, slim as it may be."
She didn’t argue.
The restaurant parking lot was full, and they had to park on the street. The dining room was packed with noisy families chattering in Spanish. The same matronly hostess greeted them. "Mr. Baxter, your table is waiting." She picked up two menus. "This way please."
Ann grinned at Alex. "Mr. is it? And Julia calls you Alex? My, you do get around."
He half grinned as they followed the hostess through the room to a table against the wall. He held a chair for her before seating himself.
A young waitress, a Julia clone, appeared from nowhere and took their order for margaritas. For the first time in too many days she felt relaxed, content to just be.
"I got tomorrow off."
Ann reached across the table and took his hand. "I'm so glad. I've a lot to tell you."
He squeezed her hand. "I'll bet. NASA must be in an uproar."
The waitress appeared with their drinks.
Ann clinked her frosty glass with his. "Salud."
"To us," he replied, taking a long swallow.
She sipped hers and felt the drink settle into her empty stomach producing a warm glow, as if more were needed. She gazed into his blue eyes, remembering why the right one didn't react. There's some serious stuff he has to know but only in small doses. Please, God, let it be all right.
"So, what's been happening? I just make sure our freeways go where they're supposed to. And we do need to order."
She twirled the cold glass in her hands and took a longer sip. "I'll have what I had the last time. Alex, did you watch the NASA news conference?"
"No, I was on site. I just saw the summaries in the evening news."
"The ship's radio was out. Global sent me there to make sure the EntComs worked."
“What you and your husband invented.”
“Yes. EntCom stands for Entangled Communications. It's a quantum mechanical device that transmits messages instantaneously anywhere, even if it's across the solar system. There is no time lag."
His brow wrinkled in thought. "I seem to recall Einstein proved that was impossible."
"I can't explain it to you now, but the speed of light isn’t violated. What’s important is that you understand why the system is critical to NASA." Quit lecturing him, tell him the weird part. She took another swallow. "There's more. The EntComs are fact checkers; they can distinguish between fact and non-fact, truth or lies."
He stared at her and shook his head. "You're pulling my leg."
"That's later," she quipped. She gazed into his eyes, shutting out the noisy babble around them. "You must believe me, I, we, just discovered this ability a few weeks ago, and it's had terrible consequences. I'm sure it's why the lab was destroyed and also why Doug was killed and my CEO shot." There, she'd said it.
She would have laughed at his wide-eyed expression if she weren’t so anxious.
Their waitress returned. "Ready to order?"
Thankful for the interruption, she ordered the prawns Colorado and a salad; Alex ordered the same. The waitress left. Ann remained silent watching Alex as he digested the last tidbit.
"Ann, forgive me, but that's the most improbable statement I've ever heard. I'd say you were nuts, a real certified wacko, but I know different, and that's disturbing." He stared at her, frowning. "Where’s your bodyguard, not that I miss him."
Didn’t he listen? "I told you, he was killed protecting the CEO."
His eyebrows shot up, and he sucked in his breath. "Jesus Christ, Ann. You mean it, don't you."
She let out a breath she didn't remember holding. Thank the gods, he's taking it well. "You have no idea how much trouble I've had getting the idea across. I've been accused of lying, covering up some unknown conspiracy, you name it. But I'm te
lling you the absolute truth." She felt her composure slipping, but held her tears in check. She had to tell him about Jon. First get the evening's mood back.
"You're in danger." No question, just a flat statement.
"Nobody knows where I am. And I won't live in a cage." Clear the air. "I'll leave if you feel uncomfortable with this situation." Though it would kill her. She waited while he considered, not taking his eyes off her.
He reached across the table and took her hand. She grasped it, hardly daring to breathe.
"Ann, believe me when I say there is no power on Earth that can make me let you go. There isn't a minute of the day or night when I don't think of you, and that has me totally confused. I swore years ago never again to let a woman capture my heart as you have, and now I don't care."
She had dared to hope, but... "I'll stay if you'll have me."
He gave her a wicked grin. "I'll have you later."
Their waitress returned, her arms full of steaming plates, and served them. "May I get you anything else?"
"Two Negra Modelos," Alex answered, raising an eyebrow at Ann.
Not trusting herself to speak, she stabbed a forkful of salad. Within minutes the plate was empty, and she started on the prawns. They were as wonderful as she remembered. "Excellent."
Alex, his mouth full of prawns, nodded. They ate in silence until the waitress returned with their beers. Ann took a long swallow then realized if she had any more she'd fall asleep. That wasn't what she had in mind. "I've had enough." She pushed the bottle across to him.
He didn’t take it. “Me too.”
They declined dessert, and Alex drove them back to the motel. She found herself staring intently into the shadows between buildings, searching for assailants, not wanting to find them.
Alex noticed her intent expression. "Relax, nobody's going to bother us."
She blushed and said nothing until they were climbing the steps to the second floor, holding hands. "Why did you change rooms?"
He laughed. "It was my turn to get an upgrade."
She squeezed his hand.
In the room, after removing their shoes and socks, they undressed each other.
"Blue's my favorite color," Alex confessed, reaching around her to unsnap her bra, letting it fall to the floor. He kissed her breasts, and her nipples hardened at the touch of his lips.
She pulled his t-shirt off his, tugged his shorts off and licked his erection.
He slid her panties down and off and kissed her navel.
At the touch of his lips a jolt went through her insides. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down onto the bed. "Lie still," she whispered. She straddled him, then lowered herself till he slid into her. For a delicious moment she remained still, before moving up and down, all the while gazing into his eyes. He grasped her back, then her breasts, then her back over and over as she increased her tempo. In minutes he was groaning and bucking beneath her and with a great heave climaxed. He pulled her down to his chest and kissed her. They lay together, panting. She felt a great peace fall upon her. "I want this to last forever," she murmured, and kissed his mouth and throat and chest and dozed off.
[Monday, Vatican City]
Cardinal Balsamo regarded the nervous Brother Isaac standing before his desk. He didn't smile at his obvious discomfort. And where is your charity? He'd ask forgiveness later. "She gave no reason why she declined? None?"
"No, Eminence."
"She's your friend, what do you guess?"
Expressions of chagrin and annoyance flitted across the Jesuit's face. "I surmise it was the totality of all that's happened to her; her husband's death proved too much. She wanted to stay home."
That rang true. "Did you hear or see anything to negate your belief in the truth of her discovery?"
Brother Isaac shook his head. "No Eminence, quite the contrary."
"Would you classify the machine's ability as miraculous?"
"It remains unexplained, but quantum mechanics is weird and not intuitive."
"That's not an answer."
"What would you have me say? Ann has no idea of how it works, but that will change as she researches the phenomenon." He suppressed a yawn.
He's obviously jet-lagged. "You may take the rest of today off; report to me in the morning."
Brother Isaac bowed. "Thank you, Your Eminence." He pivoted and left the office, shutting the door quietly.
Balsamo stepped over to his window and gazed out at the sunlit piazza. Now what? His instincts warned him that a super storm, a hurricane of unprecedented strength was about to engulf the Church, and he could do nothing about it. His prayers had gone unanswered. He sighed wearily, back to work on his budget.
His tablet 'tinged' and a window opened with Meyer's round face peering out. Calling to gloat? He was the next chairman. "Good afternoon Cardinal Meyer."
"Claudio, I hoped to catch you," Meyer responded, his expression stern.
Alarms went off in his brain, Meyer never used the familiar. "May I be of service?"
"I have been thinking about the subject you presented at your hastily convened meeting and wish to clarify a couple points."
Balsamo let the slight go by. "If I am able."
"What did your Jesuit emissary find out?"
He knew, no surprise, secrets were impossible to conceal. "He confirmed that the device works as I described. Further, four people have been killed in attempts to acquire it."
Meyer's eyes widened in shock. "May God have mercy on their souls."
Yes, but he worried about the Church.
Meyer regained his composure. "I have received independent confirmation of the device's incredible ability and have reconsidered my position. I now agree that the Church faces an extraordinary crisis."
The bald announcement shook Balsamo. Independent confirmation? "May I ask where your information originated?"
Meyer smiled briefly. “My office has American contacts at NASA. We heard that the Houston Space Center had conducted experiments that verified that incredible ability. Also, your Dr. Grey has been training NASA in its use."
Balsamo suppressed a stab of anger. Was Brother Isaac hiding something? If so, he'd regret it. "That's hardly surprising considering the emergency situation they're dealing with."
"Yes. I've also concluded we must acquire one."
Balsamo started and regarded Meyer with suspicion. "I couldn't agree more, but why? They cost millions, and it’s weeks before delivery."
"I'm aware of that. I have access to discretionary funds that I'm willing to commit. As to why, there are unresolved issues with my judicial section tasked by His Holiness Francis I to investigate the pedophile abomination. Dr. Grey’s device could be instrumental in resolving them.”
God did listen. He’d pray for forgiveness for doubting. Time to act, but first… "I do not think others need be burdened with details, at least not now."
Meyer half-smiled. "Eventually everyone will know, by then we will be in position to direct efforts."
"I will prepare an RFQ and send it electronically tomorrow if you're willing."
"I'd prefer you send it under your signature and not go through the normal procurement channels."
The request didn’t surprise Balsamo. "I agree. I'll have a draft ready for your review tomorrow."
Meyer smiled. "I don't need to see it. Now, about the chairman duties, is there anything I need to know, any unfinished business?"
They continued in that vein, discussing unimportant details, until Meyer was satisfied and ended the session.
Balsamo pondered the now blank screen. He'd let brother Isaac sleep a little while before wringing his brains for technical advice on the RFQ.
[Monday, Yreka]
Ann ran her hands over Alex, savoring the firm muscles under warm smooth skin. "Good morning," she whispered.
He slid his hands up her back and hugged her.
"Alex, I have something to tell you."
He smiled. "I know you're married."
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She shook her head, and his smile faded.
"What is it?"
"My husband's body was found in a burning warehouse in Portland, Saturday."
"What?" His body stiffened, and he pulled his head back and stared at her, eyes wide with shock. "Oh my God, Ann, that's horrible." He grasped her in a fierce hug.
All the worry and frustration and fear and anger and helplessness of the last few weeks overwhelmed her. She burst into tears. "I wanted to tell you, but I feared your reaction, that our time together would be ruined, so I didn't" She sobbed until out of breath and lay against him, shuddering, ashamed for being so weak.
He stroked her hair, kissed her forehead, and they held each other while her breathing slowed. She sat up, leaned back against the pillows and crossed her arms.
He draped his arm around her shoulders. "Do you know what happened?"
"The FBI suspects he was kidnapped to make the prototype work and then killed."
He shook his head. "Unbelievable. It's something from a bad dream. What will you do?"
She snuggled into his shoulder. "I don't know. I can't plan anything until they release his body. When Global purchased our startup we had to prepare wills as part of the deal, but I don't recall what's in them. There's his family and mine and friends and acquaintances. I don't want to deal with it right now. Can't we enjoy the day? Please?"
"Whatever you wish. After you went to sleep I lay awake trying to come to grips with everything you told me. It's so hard to accept. You've been dealing with this for weeks by yourself? How do you stand it?"
"Ian and Isaac helped. Without them, I don't think I could have coped."
He frowned. "Who are they?"
"I'm sorry, I've not explained very well. Ian MacDougal is head of corporate security, and Isaac is an old friend from university days who is now a Jesuit. His boss sent him to verify the claims about the EntComs." Don't stop now. "He was staying as a house guest when I was sent to Houston."
His gaze sharpened. "So, you have two other suitors?"
