The old ghost paused for a moment. “Love needs be applied when we are feeling our lowest. And when we feel low, we must allow love to lift us up and carry us to the clouds. Love is an extremely powerful force. You must harness it and apply it to cure the ills of your partner. When the other is down, you raise them up with your love. Don’t ignore them or walk away. Smother them in love until all the problems start to dissolve. Love each other.”
Whitney tried to hold back the tears as the man continued, “I speak in simple words because sometimes we complicate matters of life for no known reason. We don’t need fancy words to show us that we love each other. Love your partner with all of your heart and you can overcome any situation. There will always be rough times, always, but you need to love each other and support each other emotionally. All the other things will fall into place if you simply put your love for each other first. Due to this being a truncated ceremony, you may seal this marriage with a kiss. This kiss will pledge a lifetime of love to your partner.”
Trent and Whitney’s lips met as soon as the words had been uttered. Two soft kisses were followed by a firm one and Whitney could hear the people clapping around them. Another shower of purple and green glitter fell from the ceiling and landed on the newly married couple.
Everyone cheered as Richard led them back out the front door.
“So that was it? It’s official with just a kiss? We didn’t even have to say any words or exchanged rings?”
Richard answered, “We apologize for having to make a brief ceremony but you will say the words and go through the entire legal procedure on earth. Your marriage is official.”
Trent held her hand as they walked down the steps to get back on the ferry.
He said, “We’re married. How about that?”
“I know, I know. I’m still shaking. It was kind of weird but it was so romantic. We are like a Prince and Princess in these clothes.”
Richard said, “I hate to butt in, but I need to brief you on this return to earth. You will go up the slide as you have in the past and through the tunnel, but you will land at the party as it is going on. Try not to act too suspicious when you get back.”
The ferry pulled up to the slide and the suction pulled Trent and Whitney in. They went through the normal return procedure and Whitney stood in the kitchen of Victoria’s house.
“I mean, you looked so beautiful today. You look beautiful every day, but especially today,” her aunt Rita told her.
Whitney looked into the dining room and saw Trent sitting next to her dad and Aaric. They made eye contact and Whitney felt frozen in time. She couldn’t believe she was now officially married to the perfect man. Whitney wondered if Trent had similar thoughts about her. He had always drowned her in compliments, but she assumed he was just being overly nice.
Ursula Powers said, “It’s such a shame that you two won’t get a proper honeymoon. When do you have to go back to the Capitol?”
“We have to be back in two days. It’s not ideal like this, but we knew if we put it off, it might never happen. It sounds weird to say, but the life we live moves fast and doesn’t leave much social time anymore.”
Victoria said, “You sound like me with the kids. And I’ll just say that I’m delighted you two chose to get married. Now we can complain to each other about married life.” Her sister giggled and sipped her gin and tonic through the red straw.
Whitney made her way around the party several times thanking everyone and she was already starting to miss her husband. They had been separated for most of the party as they were constantly being pulled away in different directions.
Whitney turned around and found the person she was looking for. Trent leaned in and hugged her.
“This was pretty much a perfect day. What a great party here!”
Trent gave her a kiss as they held the embrace. “I agree, and not much dancing, which is always alright with me.”
“Why, you’re a great dancer.”
Trent said, “Just because you are my wife doesn’t mean you have to lie to me to make me feel better. I know I’m not a good dancer.”
“Yes you are.” Whitney rubbed her nose back and forth across Trent’s.
Trent asked, “Should we go to the hotel now?”
Whitney nodded and the couple made their rounds thanking everyone before they got into the limo. They drove into the city and Whitney and Trent made out in the back the entire time. The couple went up to the room and Trent unlocked and opened the door.
Whitney felt something in her shoe and she stopped for a moment. She took off the high heel and shook it out. Purple dust danced in the moonlight as a reminder of the other world.
They held hands and walked over a path of rose petals leading straight to the bed. A wooden canopy held a see-through red curtain that surrounded all four sides. They slowly undressed each other and drew back the red lace.
The married couple playfully attacked each other and Trent ended up on top. He gave Whitney soft, wet kisses from head to toe until her body was on fire. Trent started out slowly and Whitney waited for him to increase the speed like he normally did.
However, he just kept making sweet love to his wife and Whitney got lost in the sensuality of the moment. He kept driving her crazy and she felt like a real princess. Trent had always treated her like royalty, although today’s surrounding scenery really reinforced the idea.
Whitney wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. She could feel both of their hearts beating in unison and had never felt closer to her lover. After about an hour, Trent finally finished inside Whitney. She pulled him in close again as her body trembled. She kissed his neck several times and Trent buried his head in her chest.
He rolled over onto his back and Whitney moved over to him. She kissed his chest several times and laid her head on the hard surface and could hear her lover’s rapid heartbeats. She stretched her arm over her husband and a huge smile appeared on her face. Whitney Powers Merrick could not be happier.
There was only one subject she had been putting off to talk to Trent about.
“So I love your last name and I happily accept it legally, but do you think it would be alright if in the professional sector, I keep using Powers? I only want to do this because I don’t want people to think of me as your wife, not Whitney.”
Trent said, “I really don’t think people will do that. However, that’s pretty easy for me to say because I don’t have to change my last name. I have no problem with you keeping the Powers name involving our careers.”
“That went much better than I expected. Probably helped that I asked you right after sex.”
Trent smiled. “I didn’t even realize. You cheated. I thought the idea just popped into your head.”
“Oh, well it totally did pop in right now. There’s no need to mention that it has popped in a couple times before that.”
Trent said, “Well we seem to be working out pretty well as a team. Every time I am nervous about something I mention to you, there’s never a problem and vice versa. You got pretty lucky girl.” Trent chuckled.
“Despite your ego, I did get pretty lucky. I love you, baby.”
Trent said, “I love you too.”
7
Whitney couldn’t believe her eyes as the new Chief of the Bureau of Investigation entered the room. It was the former High Judge, Raymund Ellerbee, who had made the arms deal with King Raddman on the airplane. The older man with male pattern baldness and a bushy beard and mustache had a smile from one of his big ears to the other. His jubilance was making Whitney feel ill especially the fact that he seemed to be unbothered by his criminal actions.
She looked at Trent and they both shook their heads in silence. They hadn’t told anyone about the shady tarmac meeting because they hadn’t been able to get any corroboration that they could show the other agents. Whitney wasn’t going to tell everyone they had received the information from a flying dragon that took them back in time. She knew the proof was out there som
ewhere because of all the payments, but they hadn’t been able to locate those receipts yet.
The new Chief stood next to the podium and shook hands with some of the senior agents before everyone sat down.
The obese Chief’s double-chin shook as he cleared his throat. “It is with great honor that I’ve been chosen by the President himself to lead this great organization. The reason our President thought that a change was necessary is because the Bureau had lost its focus. We all stand together for a great country that we love and will die for. Your previous leader’s questionable judgment had been slipping for quite a while and President Gergen wouldn’t let our reputation slip into the gutter.”
The Chief took off his suit jacket and continued, “So I have come to resurrect the honor that this Bureau deserves and will always stand for. Integrity will be the one word I am going to focus on. We need to maintain our integrity.”
This is unbelievable. Is he really going to try to lecture this group on integrity? He sold out our country.
The Chief went on. “Our integrity has been attacked by your former Chief. I really liked Mr. McTalbot, but he started to focus on baseless conspiracy theories that wouldn’t even make for a good movie script. I am here to restore order, integrity and our once-great reputation. First order of business is to shut down this ridiculous attack on our President and, in turn, our own country of Adoxia. This is all because a foreign entity that doesn’t like him tried to spread false rumors.”
He’s not even sweating. He’s an excellent liar. I figured a fat guy like him would be leaking like crazy from all these blatant lies. This guy’s more dangerous than I thought.
The Chief continued, “I have personally checked out this misinformation and debunked all these alleged theories and suggested accomplices. I’m not sure what someone was trying to prove, but I won’t allow us to go down the rabbit hole and drink the magic tea. To maintain a shred of integrity, I’m ordering everyone to give me any materials you may have related to those preposterous allegations.”
I’m not giving you anything. You want my evidence, you’re going to have to go through Trent for it. Good luck, big boy. He seems to love adjectives and analogies to try to make this look like the most ridiculous event of all time. He’s overcompensating but unfortunately only Trent and I know it.
The Chief glanced around the room with a serious look. “Our first chance to bring back the Bureau has already arrived. We have uncovered the biggest event of government corruption by the Cardinal Party. We are putting together a report as we speak about the despicable acts and atrocities they unleashed in a vain attempt to gain power. This will be our new focus.”
Whitney knew this was a diversionary tactic. The Cardinal, Raven and Bull Parties were the three main ones in Adoxia. Recently, the Raven Party hadn’t been much of a factor in the elections, but there was intense competition and hatred between the Cardinal and Bull Parties. The President and all his accomplices, including the new Chief, were members of the Bull Party.
Chief Ellerbee said, “I want everyone here to take pride in working here and we need to make sure we are putting our country ahead of our own personal agendas. Let’s take today to make sure we hand over all of those fake materials that someone tried to fool us with and refocus. The new focus and a plan of investigation will be distributed either tomorrow on the following day. Now let’s go make the Bureau and country proud. You’re dismissed.”
Whitney looked at Trent and he looked like he was about to explode in anger. She noticed even his ears were almost purple.
He said, “I’m going to kill this guy. He can’t do this to our country.”
Trent got up and a couple of agents tried to stop him, but he kept pushing his way toward the Chief. Whitney started to worry that Trent might get physical with the new Chief because of how he had beaten up the bullies from her high school. He seemed to have a passionate temper and more agents stepped in to try to talk him out of this.
“What’s going on over there?” the Chief asked as he gathered all of his papers.
“Nothing, sir,” Barrett Nedhurst cried out.
“Not happening. I’ll tell you what’s wrong. We have a lot of intel from sources that have never been wrong before pertaining to this case,” Trent yelled at the Chief.
Raymund Ellerbee immediately said, “And I just told you that those people have been feeding us false information. I suggest you calm yourself and stand down if you want to continue to work here. Or you can try to be a hero and take a run at me. You wouldn’t be the first.” The Chief laughed and Whitney worried that statement might set off her lover.
Trent took a deep breath and stopped pushing the pile toward the podium. Everyone backed away and Trent fixed his clothes and walked up to Whitney.
“Ready to go back to our office?” he asked in an extremely calm tone.
“Yes, of course.”
Whitney wanted to slap the smirk off the Chief’s face as she walked by and went back to her office. Trent remained calm on the way back and closed the door after they got into the room.
“I can’t believe that guy, gas lighting the honorable men and women that work here. How can you do those horrible things. What else do you think he’s done? This might be the only thing we know about, but I’m willing to bet there’s a lot more,” Trent rambled.
“Considering he willfully added obstruction of justice to the list today by ordering us to shut down the case, I think he’s done a lot more too. I’m almost afraid to find out what else he might be responsible for. Eww, he is the worst type of person.”
Trent nodded his head, “Agreed. This is why it makes me so mad. These aren’t just little misdemeanors, these are the worst possible crimes you could commit. And the fact that they are so smug about it makes me want to get these crooks even more.”
There was a knock at the door.
“I guess the Paperwork Patrol is here to seize our work on the Gergen Files.”
Whitney opened the door and Barrett Nedhurst was waiting outside.
He asked, “Could I come in for a moment?”
“Of course.” Whitney moved to the side and gestured with her arm for him to come in.
She closed the door as the red-headed agent looked nervously around the room. He spoke in almost a whisper, “We’re not giving up on this. There are seven of us so far that are going to do this for our country. Meet us at the Graffiti Garage at ten o’clock tonight. I won’t say any more here.”
The short and stout forty-year-old man, who walked with a slight limp from being shot, lumbered out of the room. Whitney looked at Trent with raised eyebrows.
He said, “Maybe the new Chief was right. Maybe he’s going to set off a nuclear bomb of motivation for some of us at the Bureau.”
“I know it’s working for me. I hated Benno Dante but I never really saw him so it made it a little less personal. I wanted to take down the syndicate more than just one individual. Like you said, seeing the smug looks on their faces like they are going to get away with it makes me sick. My biggest worry is that they’ve been getting away with this kind of stuff for their entire careers.”
“It’s a great shame. We grew up thinking the politicians were going to listen and look out for us. And then you grow up. Then you realize that they are bought off by special interest groups and big corporations and reality again reveals the ugliness of mankind. If a system can be corrupted, hell, we just saw the same thing with the mob. That’s the scary part to me. This filters throughout the entire country from one coast to the other,” Trent lamented.
“Luckily, we are here to clean all this up. Alright, so do you want to do dinner downtown and then go to this bar to meet up with everyone else?”
Trent nodded his head, “Sounds like a plan.”
Whitney and Trent entered the Graffiti Garage and immediately felt out of place. They had changed before leaving work, but they still looked to be the oldest people in the bar. Whitney thought this might be an underage place by the face
s of all the patrons. They looked around for their coworkers but couldn’t find them in the crowded Garage.
The pounding music made Whitney wonder why Barrett wanted to meet in this place. Trent tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a table in the corner with the other agents. The couple waved to everyone and Whitney didn’t even attempt to scream over the music.
Whitney and Trent sat next to Barrett with six other agents hovering around the table.
“Why would you want to meet here?”
Barrett screamed into her ear, “Because nobody will be able to know what we are talking about. There are a lot of spies running around the Capitol and this should make it hard to eavesdrop.”
Whitney screamed to him, “So what is the plan?”
Barrett looked around and yelled, “We have ten agents now that are dedicated to finding out the truth about Gergen’s dealings. Everyone is pissed that the new Chief is going after his rival party because politics are supposed to stay out of the Bureau.”
“Then why doesn’t everyone want to find out the truth?”
Barrett licked the foam off the top of his beer. He waited for the next song to start. “Some of the agents are scared to lose their jobs. Can’t fully blame them. Some of us put country first and if we get fired, we get fired.”
Trent tapped her on the shoulder and yelled, “What the hell is he saying?”
Whitney told her lover what their fellow agent had told her. They hung out at the bar for about another hour so they didn’t look suspicious, and went home for the night. She was proud to be part of a dedicated group that wouldn’t quit demanding the truth.
They made it home and Whitney got ready for bed.
Roam Around The Earth: Whitney Powers Paranormal Adventure #2 (Whitney Powers Paranormal Adventures) Page 5
