Truth or Consequences

[SecretDesires]

OOC: This thread is for Zirconn and I right now. Other roles may open up later but for now we hope you enjoy the story.

IC: Candice Lawrence pushed open the door to her 'office' and stepped in out of the rain. Her office consisted of a small space off the main street and was pretty unimpressive. Truthfully she could have afforded better but she chose to let her reputation, not window dressing, speak for her. Her secretary sat at her desk in the corner and looked up as the bell on the door signalled her entrance. Smiling Abbey said,"Did you rent the Ark to get here? I think half the town is flooded in this downpour."

"More like the whole town," Candice or Candy as the small circle she admitted to being her friends called her. Taking off her raincoat and shaking it out, she also shook her mane of red hair from the confines of the hood.

Abbey put up her hands and sat back in her chair. "Hey!" She called out,"If I wanted that kind of treatment I would have brought my dog to work with me. Cut it out would you?"

Candy laughed and picked up her mail from the out box on Abbey's desk. Abbey was one person she could call her friend. She may have employed her for the last five years but if there were one person she could count on it would be this woman who had stuck with her through good times and bad. So the joking between the women was lighthearted and routine though some might think it inappropriate for employer and employee.

Fact was Candy had long ago stopped caring about what others thought. In her line of work it was a hazard and her line of work was hazardous enough. Candy was a bounty hunter. And not just any bounty hunter-she was one of the best. She could count on one hand the number of men who had gotten away from her and even then she still kept records of them which included any new information on their whereabouts. She was one determined lady as most people soon found out.

Going behind the partition that separated her space from that of the 'front office' Candy sat down at her desk and reached over to grab an orange juice from the small fridge beside her. It wouldn't do to catch cold now that she had clients willing to pay well for the capture of a wanted murderer. Sifting through her mail she came upon the envelope they had promised to send her and set down her drink to carefully open it.

Dumping the contents upon the desk she first read the letter that outlined what had happened. An archeological dig that had gone wrong with one of the members being murdered by the others. The knife was one he had given to the murder victum, had his fingerprints on it and, to top it all off, the man had been standing over the body when the others had come back from a hard day of digging. Seems there was a treasure involved that the guy had taken off with as well as a red tape issue since the dig was in another country and they couldn't wait for the government to handle things and find him and so wanted her to do it.

A writ for his arrest was included in the package. He was believed to be back in the USA so at least the government wanted him captured. The red tape would come into play when they tried to see who would try him for the murder. American victum, American murderer, foriegn soil. Always good for a few months or years of bickering amongst governments while the guilty party gets away.

Candy's eyes scanned the documents and then something stopped her. Rereading the papers a bit more carefully this time she realized what it was. The name of the murderer jumped out at her again and this time she paid closer attention. A look of disbelief came over her face and she quickly shuffled through the papers looking for a photo of her man. In fact she was in such a frenzy that she knocked the bottle of OJ off her desk onto the floor but ignored it as it began to leak all over the carpet beneath the desk.

"Son of a Bitch," She said as she pulled up the photo and stared at it in shock. "It can't be but it is." A familiar face stared out of the picture, a few years added on it since she had seen it last but certaintly the same face she remembered from college. The face that she had dreamed about night after night, the one she had looked for out her dorm window whenever there was a party or social event to go to, the one she had kissed under the glow of the street lamps before floating off to bed to dream of him again-the one she had cut from every photo of the two of them when he just up and left with no word of where he was going or when he might possibly be back, the one that she had envisioned floating in the river she had hurled the engagement ring in after a month of no letters or explanations of him. And now he was wanted for murder.

Sitting down heavily in the chair she let the picture fall from her fingers and ignored her shoes which were now sticky with orange juice from the floor. Were the fates laughing at her or did they just give her a message about how lucky she was to have escaped a life with this man? She didn't know and she didn't care right about now. Now was not the time for thoughts on her past but on what she was going to do in the present.

Scooping up all of the papers and the pictures and stuffing them back into the manila envelope, she grabbed her coat and shrugged into it. Heading for the front door she called to Abbey,"If you need me I will be at Mike's. I think I need a stronger type of orange juice than we have here." And she was gone.

Abbey, watching her depart, shook her head. "When it rains it pours," She said not knowing what it was all about but knowing that if Candy was headed to her favorite bar for a screwdriver before noon whatever was in the mail was a humdinger.

 

[Zirconn]

Jacob Kendall (Jac)

“Hey, buddy, it’s short…”

“Oops, sorry about that…” as he drew deep into his pockets for some loose change, the last of which was supposed to buy him a hot meal. He knew he should have taken the subway, but the appearance of some cops at the gates made him make a complete U-turn and head back out on the streets. The buses were too slow and too public. He was forced to make a quick dash for the nearest cab when a few more cops appeared with sirens blaring and lights flashing. There was no sense in taking any chances, not now when he was so close to discovering what he was looking for.

It was a cold and wet day, and his coat did little to ward off the chill or wetness. The cab made much more sense when it finally got underway in the pouring rain. When it rains, it pours. Now was not a good time to be getting a cold and be bed-ridden. Now was the time to be alive and take life by the balls. At least this was what Jacob kept telling himself over and over again. A little self-encouragement could not hurt. Defeatism feeds on itself, and Jac realized this early on, especially the moment he took the first steps away from the body he found.

He lowered himself further into the seat, drawing the lapels of his coat as high up as possible, as he replayed the events of the past few weeks. There was no way that he was responsible for Bert’s death. It was not possible, even remotely, for Jacob was not a murderer. He could hurt and kill a fly, as attested by the numerous mosquitoes, but he just did not have the courage to murder a person. He did not even have the courage to show his face to his fiancée Candy, let alone go out and kill someone. Thinking about Candy brought a huge sigh from him, which made the driver look suspiciously at him.

Jac could not quite put his finger on why he “abandoned” Candy. His very own sweet Candy, as he affectionately remembered. Perhaps it was fear, or the absence of courage, or perhaps it was something else, something that had everything to do with her. Anyhow, she would probably bleed him or worse, castrate him, and then let him bleed to death. And he probably deserved it after what he did to her. Deep in his heart he still deeply love her, although forgiveness from her would probably be wishful thinking. Now that she had a life of her own, he knew he could not go back no matter how much he prayed or wished. There were just some things in life, which there can be no redemption. Or so he thought…

“What in God’s name…” as he knelt over the body of his friend, Albert Shultz.

The day had started innocuously enough. The battle against the insects of the jungle was still going on, and he was losing it of course. The guides had told him that the mosquito nets were the finest that money can buy. But still the “commando” mosquitoes had managed to sneak pass this “finest”, and attacked him without mercy. The morning brought a little bit of respite, not enough, but it would have to suffice.

The outboard motor was leaking oil, and black oily smoke was wafting into the air. He was resigned to sitting at the fore of this rickety and leaking boat for the entire trip. Still, his excitement overcame his distaste for the mode of transportation. Bert had invited him, all expenses paid, to go and visit him in the jungles of Guatemala. Before that, he had not even heard of Guatemala. Now he was literally knee-deep in that country.

The ancient ruins that Bert found would make his career as an archaeologist. Riches and fame, more of fame than actual material wealth, would drop on Bert’s lap once his discovery was made public. It was so unexpected that Bert would remember him from their old neighborhood. Jacob was a bum, while Bert was a successful archeologist, or at least he was going to be if he had stayed alive.

In his last missive, Bert had mentioned about finding something that would make him rich beyond his wildest dreams, mentioning something akin to finding the fabled city of El Dorado. But Jac dismissed it from his mind as such practical jokes were common during their childhood…

The gruff voice of the cab driver brought him out of his reverie. There was no use in going over and over again things that cannot be undone. Jac looked up at the pouring rain, marveling at the steel and concrete jungle that surrounded him. The buildings blocked the view of the skies, just as the thick canopy of the jungle blocked the sun. Only the wet and cold rain, and the unmistakable throngs of people rushing to their little cubicles in this vast steel and concrete jungle, reminded him where he was. He looked suspiciously around, turning instantly at every sound of a police or ambulance siren. His nerves were strung tight like those on a guitar. Jumpiness was mild description when applied to him.

Across the street, a bar with the rather good name of “Mike’s” beckoned him for a strong drink and some hot food, but he knew that he had neither the money nor the time for such pleasures. He ducked into the building after an old lady left it ajar for far longer than it was prudent. The magnetic locks were designed to keep intruders or non-resident like him away, except that it was subjected to the folly of men. Lady Luck was still with him it seemed.

Bert’s apartment was easy enough to get into. And once Jac stepped foot into it, he knew immediately why. The furniture and stuff were strewn all about. Apparently, someone had searched the apartment, thoroughly with a fine-toothed comb. A lot of broken stuff around, making him tread carefully over the broken glass, wood and metal. His direction, without faltering a step, was the bookcase still on the wall by the window.

All the books were ripped apart and discarded on the floor. Even the leather-bound copy of Huckleberry Finn. This was Bert’s and Jac’s secret when they were much, much younger. The gilded letters proudly pronounced the work of Mark Twain, but inside were actually Playboy and Hustler Centerfolds from 1980 to 1990. Ten years, 120 months worth of Centerfolds. It started as a dare that turned into a project for both of them, a project that lay hidden from their respective parents. Now the pristine, leggy pictures were all torn up and discarded. Soiled beyond repair. A tear escaped from Jac’s eyes when he saw that.

The wooden box that held the book was still on the bookcase. It was easy enough to tear apart, with all the other broken stuff available in the room as tools. But it held no secret for him, even as Bert’s last words to him were, “…Huck Finn, Jac… behind Huck Finn…” The leather of the book also tore easily, but to no avail either. The bookcase took a bit of energy, energy that he did not really have, except for the anger now fully out in the open.

He sat down by the window looking at the blasted rain, frequently glancing at the blank wall that used to hold the bookcase. From the corner of his eye he could see Mike’s and the “treasures” that lay beyond that door. A few doors down, a bank and a wall-mounted ATM, where it also hold “treasures” which he does not own but desperately need to stay alive…

 

[SecretDesires]

"Three screwdrivers in a row before noon?" Mike said setting the glass down in front of her? "Want to talk about it?"

Candy looked up at the beefy bartender. No one knew how old Mike was and it seemed that the bar had been around the neighborhood forever. You couldn't find anyone that could not tell you a story about 'one day down at the bar' and when they said 'the bar' you knew it was Mike's. Mike was owner and bartender even though he had plenty of money to hire younger bartenders and take a night off for once. But the bar was his life and Candy doubted he would know what to do without people like her coming in and spilling their problems out to him. In fact Mike had helped her see things in a different perspective more than once and she credited him with helping with several of her cases.

But not this time. This time it was too close and private to discuss with anyone. Shaking her head, she waited for him to move back to the bar before taking out the papers from the envelope once again. Discarding everything on the table but the picture of Jac, she stared at it for a long time her mind blank and her emotions boiling. The past came back to her then, the past she thought she had buried long ago.

She could see Jac across the table from her, the candles adding highlights to his hair. Both of them being in college made an outing like this a rare occasion and she had dressed up for it. Her black spaghetti strap dress that dipped low enough to give a tasteful glimpse of her cleavage, her pumps that lengthened her legs which she always claimed was her best feature, her hair done up in a loose bun with tendrils falling to frame her face and Jac's favorite perfume placed in all the right places played about in her mind. She could almost see his face smiling at her from across the table as he held her hand and they talked of nothing at all.

And then the waiter came with a covered silver platter and placed it before her. She protested because they had not ordered yet and it was surely a mistake. Someone else must have ordered it. But the waiter insisted that it was right and the gentleman had ordered this especially for her. With a quick flourish he whipped the cover from the platter and there in an open jewlery box sat the most beautiful ring she had ever seen in her life. It was not huge but it was beautiful and it must have cost Jac more than he could afford. She had looked up at him in astonishment and saw he was grinning. "Well? What do you say? Think you could put up with me for the rest of your life?"

Quickly Candy stuffed the picture back into the envelope and shook off the tears that were threatening behind her eyes. Dammit! She had gotten over him and now she was charged with bringing him in to the authorities. He was just another case to her. He always was a dreamer, talking about how he would treat her once he had been successful and all the things she could look forward to once he realized his dreams and found the pot of gold at the end of rainbows. He never could see that she didn't give a damn about fortunes or living well or anything else but being with him. It was the only dream she really had and he had taken that away from her just as he had let his obsessions take away the dreams of the man he had killed.

"Jac? A killer," A voice inside her spoke out in disbelief and she squashed it immediatly. The proof was there and, besides, it was not her job to determine his innocence, it was her job to bring him in so that others could do that job.

Reading the papers further she noticed some addresses listed. Jac's last known address and the address of the victum, Albert Shultz. Looking at Shultz's address she realized it was in the apartments right across the street from Mike's and she shook her head at the coincidences that had all of a sudden dropped into her life today. Well, no time like the present to get a start on this and maybe a look at the apartments would give her an idea of what Shultz was looking for when he was killed. When Jac killed him. Again that voice of disbelief cried out and again she pushed it to the back of her mind. Getting emotionally involved in a case was no way to handle it properly.

Putting away all the papers except for the writ for Jac's arrest and, after a moment of hesitation, Jac's photo Candy stashed the envelope with Mike a favor he had done for her before and headed out into the cold rain again pulling her hood up to cover her face. Her head was swimming a bit due to the large alcohol and low food levels in her system but there was time enough to face the situation sober. For now she just wanted to get past the bone jarring shock of it all.

Running across the street and dodging honking cars that splashed up water as they raced by, Candy came to the apartment building which had security doors. Standing there she looked around for a moment. She could go through the hassle of calling the Super and waiting to gain entrance to the building as well as to the apartment arguing about why she needed to get into it in the first place or-Candy brought out a small wrapped bundle which when untied showed itself to be a lockpicking set. Bending as if to retrieve something from the ground she picked the lock. Not in record time or even as neatly as she usually did it thanks to everything that had happened that day but she got the job done before anyone noticed she wasnt working with a key and she stepped into the building.

Albert Shultz's apartment was on the second floor landing and Candy quickly cleared the stairs looking for apartment 27. She was standing in front of apartment 23 when she noticed something wrong with the apartment two doors down. The door was ajar. Now why would the door be ajar if the man who lived there were dead? The papers said he lived alone and the report also stated that the police had been through it and had closed it off to the public until they had decided if any evidence was in it.

Candy's hand slid into the holster she always carried under her left arm. Suddenly the alcohol fog lifted and adrinaline kicked in. Putting her back to the wall she moved toward the apartment never once thinking about calling the police and waiting for them. She had a bad habit of believing she could take care of herself no matter what. Coming to the door she stopped and listened. She didn't hear a thing but that did not mean noone was in there. Looking down on the ground she could see paper and personal items right at the entrance and knew it wasn't the police who had been here-or were here now.

Taking a deep breath and pulling her gun up tight to her chest she stepped into the apartment and held the gun out in front of her in one movement her eyes scanning for anyone or anything out of place.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Sighing pensively was getting him nowhere. And everywhere was closing in on him. It was only a matter of time before the police dragnet would inescapably close around him. He remembered well the picture on t-shirt he saw once. It had two holes, one big and the other small. Underneath the smaller one were the words in bold letters, “This is your ass hole before prison”, and underneath the huge hole, “This is your ass hole in prison”. There was no way that he would allow himself be sent to prison. Just no damn way at all…

Then suddenly the door creaked ajar. And in through the door, leading the way was the barrel of a gun. The frustration and tiredness suddenly disappeared from Jac. He was an athlete in high school, and the romp through the thick tropical jungle gave him a rather fit body and quick reflexes. In a flash, the half-broken chair that he was sitting on, came flying at the gun. The crack of the chair on the steel barrel was loud, as was the sound of the gun hitting the hardwood floor. The sounds should make an ordinary person freeze in mid-step, but not to Jac or possibly the assailant.

But Jac’s was driven by fear. Fear of prison. Fear of death. Just plain fear. That made him just a tad faster. Probably a blink of an eye faster. His arms stretched out to grasp the wrist that held the gun, and pulled the new intruder through the doorway and amongst the bits and pieces on the hardwood floor. He had no time to get the dropped gun, but enough time to grab a broken lamp stand to know the living hell out of the new intruder. Lifting it up high over his head, he stopped as if he himself was hit by a freight train.

“How… How… What… Candy??!!…”

For a man who was and is still, so articulate, Jac was utterly knocked speechless. This was the one person the entire world, amongst the billions of people, that he had not expected through the door. This was the one person that he had never hoped to ever see again, and only from afar, if he had ever gotten the courage to see her.

“Candy… How… What…”

That was all he could utter when he finally lowered the lamp stand, and stood dumbfounded and tongue-tied. And his mind was now whirling with thoughts, suppositions, explanations on why he was here, why she was here instead the another one of the millions of people in this city, or instead of the cops, or instead of the dig partners. Simply whirling that his eyes were soon spotting with white dots as the shock was still coursing through his brain and entire body.

So shocked was he that he did not notice the gun lying at her feet, as her face was the only thing that was registering in his brain at this point in time, when the shock had partially wore off. How could he tell her how sorry he was? How could he have ever abandoned the only woman in this wide world that he truly loved, and still deeply do? How can he explain his life to her when he was so wrong? How in the world is she going to let him live after what he had put her through?

The only option was to run, again. Like the last time, he ran because of fear, and that he could not somehow explain to her his fear. Run, like the wind, feeling the open road, with no burdens. Yes. Yes. Yes. He could run again. Except that he was tired of running. There comes a time in the life of a man when running did not help anymore, not that it did the first time he ran.

He closed his eyes, let go of the lamp stand, spread out his arms in defeat, and took a very long and deep breath. And he waited for the bullet with his name on it to reach his heart, “from Candy, with no regrets” might be etched on the hollow point as well…

 

[SecretDesires]

The feeling of the chair hitting her wrist sent a streak of pain through it and it was a moment before she could think about retrieving the gun. A moment when her guard was down and time enough for whoever threw it to grab her and pull her inside. A moment she couldn't afford to lose but when she stepped in to retrieve her weapon she froze. Jac stood there a lamp table in his hands ready to do battle.

"Too soon," Her mind was saying,"It's too damn soon. I'm not ready to deal with this yet. I was supposed to have time to adjust to the fact that he was the one I was seeking."

For a moment there was a silent stand off between them and then Jac dropped the lamp table and held out his hands in the universal sign that he gave up...surrendered.

Gathering her wits about her, Candy bent and retrieved her gun holding it and Jac at arm's length. The gun waivered just a bit but Candy knew that she was enough of a marksman to hit her target if she wished, especially this close.

"So its true," She said in a voice that held disbelief even in the face of the evidence. Obviously he was here trying to find something of his victum's that would...what? Lead him to more treasure or maybe the treasure was hidden and he had come here to find out where it was. That must have been frustrating, killing someone and expecting your prize to be on the body or nearby and finding it was hidden.

But Candy didn't shoot. A warning bell was going off inside her. Something about this didn't make sense and she hated unanswered questions. Not that there was enough time for him to answer the list of questions that she had for him but she was determined to get something from him. He owed her that.

"So it's true," She repeated stepping away from Jac just enough to prevent him from taking the gun from her hands before she could react. "You killed him and now you are here trying to find-what? I don't suppose it matters. You're under arrest. Lay down on the ground with your arms above your head. I am taking you into custody but in handcuffs."

"Too easy," Her mind was telling her,"Way to easy. It's never this easy, Candy, never. Something is wrong."

What was wrong would be evident a milisecond later as she heard the report of a gun being fired and felt it graze her shoulder. Cursing she ran to Jac and pulled him down on the floor behind the sofa. Obviously someone was at the door firing inside. But why? It wouldn't be the police because they would not just start firing in without knowing if she had the situation under control. Then who?

That question was answered when whoever was shooting called out to her. "Fine work, Bounty Hunter," He said a sneer in his voice,"you caught him the first day on the job. Only thing is I can't let you take him to the police. They wouldn't ask the right questions and, even if they did, they wouldn't tell me the answers. Send him out now and we will take care of him. You have done your work."

Candy gritted her teeth. The hell she would! This was her bust and, besides, that bullet had been aimed for her-not Jac. Someone wanted her out of the picture now that she had found him. The warning bells were louder now and she was tensed for action.

"Nothing doing!" She called back not paying Jac attention now. They were pinned down and there was no place for him to go. She could deal with him later. "I'm taking him in. My job is not done until I hand him over to the authorities."

There was a short bark of laughter from the gunman. "Trust me you don't want to go to the authorities. Right now there is a warrent out for your arrest. Seems they have it on good authority that you have found your long lost love and he has convinced you to throw in with him. You are an accessory after the fact. Won't it be convient for them when they find your body in this apartment. Apparently Jac doesn't like to share. But a woman is alway foolish when it comes to love. Let's her guard down every time. A man like him can use that to get close to you-just before he kills again."

As the shooter was speaking, Candy was looking about for a way out of this. She had been right when she assumed the bullet was for her and now she was pissed. They would be building snowmen in Hell before she let this guy's plan succeed. A large mirror on the wall facing the door caught her attention. In it she could see enough of the man there to maybe get off a shot.

Silently she moved into position, took aim...and fired. A yelp of pain told her she had been on target and it took a second to come flying out from behind the couch and get to the door. Rushing at it with all of her body strength, she slammed it into her would be killer knocking him unconscious to the ground. Before she could get a good look at him though she heard sirens in the distance. Shit! This was definately more than a three Screwdriver day.

Running over to the window she was relieved to see there was a fire escape outside. Opening it she said,"Come on! You're still my prisoner and if you try to escape I swear to God I will put a bullet in you before you can blink."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Jac froze, afraid to even to open his eyes. Afraid to see what Candy’s eyes might tell him or show him. Afraid of even what his heart might show through his eyes when he sees Candy. And definitely afraid of the hope welling up in his heart. Maybe just for the one time in his sad life that there was a hopeless redemption just for him, and him alone…

The bullet ricocheted pass his ear and grazed Candy on her shoulders. The loud thud on the wall meant it was time to open his eyes, just enough to see her bleeding. And for the longest time in his life since, he felt his calm replaced by absolute anger. Anger at whoever had dared to hurt “his Candy”. The next few moments were a blur, until he got to the fire-escape stairs. Not that he would have liked to remember any of it later on, if he lived.

“Come on! You're still my prisoner and if you try to escape I swear to God I will put a bullet in you before you can blink.”

Jac nodded, smiling showing his white teeth and large deep brown eyes at the authoritative Candy. This was how he remembered her, and she had not changed much, something which he was glad of. The stairs ended about 8 feet off the ground. There was no other choice but to jump down. He knew that this was an opportunity for him to escape, but somehow, he knew that was not what he wanted. Candy was a good shot, and the jumble of steel that made up the stairs would make her shots harder to hit. So it was a good opportunity…

Jac pushed Candy aside, and jumped down first. His athleticism had not failed him before, and it did not fail him now. The sirens were getting louder and louder, and from the alley, looking out onto the streets, people had stopped walking to look around for what was going on.

“Come on, Candy… I’ll catch you…”

Jac did not quite finish the sentence as another bullet came from Bert’s window down to the ground, a few feet from him. That prompted Candy to jump, right into his waiting arms, like so long ago. The exception to this time was that the butt of her gun slammed into his ribs, causing him to whoosh out his breath. A few more shots rang through the stairs, but hugging close to the wall meant that Jac and Candy did not present solid targets.

Then the flash of red and blue lights in the alley meant that it was way past time to leave the scene. Jac was bone-tired, but his fear and mind were working overtime. The opposite way was the only choice, as the main street was too crowded and there were already cops. Jac had a pretty good idea where he was and where he was going.

“Don’t argue with me Candy. I know where I’m going…”

When it rains, it pours. Why should this time be any different? Jac expected, right on cue as well, another car appearing in the alley in front of him. The “partner’s” partner. Without even thinking, he leapt across the hood of the car, and slammed into the door just as David was getting out. The yelp of pain sounded strangely like a woman’s, although David was a big guy. The door was slammed a few more times, making David spend the money seeking cosmetic surgery once his wounds healed.

Jac hoped that Candy did not notice that he had grabbed David’s gun, but under the circumstances, she would have been blind if she did not. And she was not blind. This was not the time to be bickering over “small” details like the possession of a gun.

The wet alleys that they zigzagged through seemed endless, and definitely confusing. Even the Chinese cooks did not look surprise when these two wet and bedraggled “Gwailoes” romped through their kitchen, and out through the front entrance. Or when they grabbed a bag of fried rice on the way out. Jac had an account here, and that bag was just another entry in the account book.

The steps up Rowland’s apartment creaked loudly, but none of the neighbors noticed. Then again, the neighbors are not nosy anyway. Like in the movies, the key to the apartment was under the Welcome mat. Rowland was not one with imagination.

“Look, Candy. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the things that I’ve done to you. I’m so, so sorry. But if you had ever believed me before, believe me just this one more time. I did not kill my best friend Bert. He was my best friend for Christ’s sake. Candy, I DID NOT kill him. You’ve got to believe me.”

Rowland’s apartment was clean, and Jac’s clean clothes were still in the closet. This was one of the perks of house sitting. And there were actually food in the fridge, mostly leftover Chinese food and pizza, but still edible.

“Look at me Candy. I’m sorry for what happened. And if I could undo what I’ve done, I would. I swear I would. I found Bert lying on the ground, with my gift to him in his back. I panicked and I ran. Bert said that he had the key to the location of what he had found. But I don’t know what he found. He told me it was treasure, although I’m disinclined to believe him since we’ve had this joke played around once too many times. Even Rowland, another archeologist, who’s now in Europe digging up some King’s tomb, plays this game. You’ve gotta believe me Candy. Please, if you’d ever loved me before, please, believe me…”

 

[SecretDesires]

The run through the alley was not on Candy's top ten list of fun things to do but she was not going to lose Jac now. She was had a good mad on and someone was going to hear about it. Her ex-fiancee was as good a candidate as any. How dare he think he could flash that smile and those big brown eyes at her and expect her to forget everything that had happened. That was happening. All of this because he decided to go off and do something...well stupid.

Hearing him gasp as her gun butt unintentionally smacked into his ribs and knowing that he was going to carry a bruise did only a little to sooth Candy's rage right now. She kept telling herself he deserved more than that and, if they made it out of this alive, she was going to see that he got exactly what he deserved.

Following him down the alley she had seen that he had grabbed whosever gun it was but it was only a thought she shelved for later. What really puzzled her was how Jac knew that the person was unfriendly and acted before whoever was in was in the car could. Something told her that there was alot more to this than just a bounty.

Racing through the kitchen, she followed him up the stairs and to an apartment. Already he was pouring forth the apologies and explanations. But how did you explain disappearing for over five years? Especially when the person you disappeared from was the woman you claimed to love enough to marry?

He was asking her to believe him but she had believed him when he said he loved her, when he said he would always be there, when he said he wanted to grow old with her. What made now so different that she should suddenly take his word?

She listened to him, not able to get a word in as his explanation gushed out but then his words hit her like a blow.


You’ve gotta believe me Candy. Please, if you’d ever loved me before, please, believe me…”

Stunned, she just stared at him for a second before she finally exploded. "If I ever loved You ?" She said, her voice not rising at all but calm and deadly. It was at this point that most of those who knew her would be looking for the exit. If she was ranting and raving they knew she was in the process of cooling off. If she was deadly calm they knew the storm was about to burst.

"Who exactly was it that sat in that damn resturant all night long until they had to throw me out because you said you would be there to talk about the wedding? Who was it that cut herself off from her friends because they kept saying that you had run off and weren't coming back? Who was it that jumped every time the phone rang knowing it would be you and you would let me know everything was alright and something dire had prevented you from making that date? Who was it that called every morgue and hospital within a twenty five mile radius just knowing that I would find you under John Doe injured beyond the capacity to let me know you were still alive?"

She took a deep breath and stared at him with ice blue eyes. "And who was it that has been gone all this time without writing or calling or even sending a goddamn carrier pidgeon to let me know that I could go on with my own life because you had no intention of being a part of it?"

She could feel the years of frustration and not knowing build up inside her and she knew she had to get away long enough to cool down.

"I am going to go into the bathroom and take a nice long, hot shower," She said her voice hard,"And when I get out I want some answers and I want them quickly." After a moment she added reaching over and securing the gun that he had slipped into his pocket,"And give me that. You are still under arrest and unless you can come up with a damn good reason why I shouldn't turn you in once the police let me within ten feet of them without wanting to arrest me too than the situation remains the same. I am the bounty hunter and you are my prisoner and I will wash my hands of you the moment the police have you."

With a quick movement she placed handcuffs on one of his arms and locked it onto the radiator that stood in the room. Whosever apartment this was didn't believe in the good life that was for sure.

Striding off and into the bathroom, Candy turned on the hot water and let the steam fill the bathroom as she slumped over the sink. That encounter with Jac had cost her more than he would ever know. She wasn't up for this. She had thought she had put him out of her mind and heart long ago but the last few hours had shown her just how deep the wounds ran and how much emotion was still tied up in him.

"Get a grip on yourself, Candy," She grited out to her image in the mirror,"You can't let him get to you like this. You are right and he is wrong and you are a fool to let his words drag you back."

Still she couldn't help but admit that the moment he had flashed that smile at her on the fire escape her heart had done a summersault. What would it take for her to learn?

Not really wanting an answer to that question she busied herself with stripping her clothes and examing the wound in her shoulder. It was just a graze but it hurt like hell and she would have to find some oinment to keep infection out. For now she would settle for some dry clothes and some food. She could hear her stomach rumbling now that the excitement was over.

After her bath, she towel dried and combed back her hair so that it lay in wet ringlets about her face and shoulders and went into the bedroom to hunt for something clean and dry to wear. She found a closet with clothes in them...all mens. Oh well, it would have to do. Pulling a shirt off the hanger she was about to put it on when she noticed that it smelled vaugely familiar.

Putting it up to her nose and inhaling deeply she realized that she could catch the faint odor of Jac's cologne. It was a brand she had bought him and he had claimed it was his favorite. He had worn it every time they went out but Candy often wondered if it was just to humor her. She wondered why on earth he would still wear it. Hesitating a moment she shrugged and slipped the shirt on. It came to just below her pany line and she had to roll the sleeves up on it but it would do until she could wash her clothes.

Making her way back into the room where she had left Jac with both firearms in hand, she uncuffed him and then went to the fridge. "I figure you need both hands to eat," She said as she pulled a pizza box from the fridge. Opening it she examined the contents and noticed it didn't come with penicillian so she took a slice and bit into it. Taking the box over to where Jac was still sitting and sat on the sofa curling her legs under her, she said,"Okay. Tell me your version of this twisted tale from the beginning. It's been five years since I saw you last and I honestly don't know what you are capable of but there are people out there going to great lengths to get their hands on you and to frame me so I can't go to the police so I am willing to give anything a shot right now."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Jac

“…so I am willing to give anything a shot right now…”

“Not so fast, Candy. You’ve had your shower, and now it’s my turn…”

He walked off, knowing that she would not shoot him in the back. Although he was not entirely sure of that since the last time he saw her, plus the fact that she ranted before she took her shower. More than likely she would actually shoot him in the front, his lower front, but days without taking a shower was taking a toll on him. The smell was beginning to even turn his own nose. And the itchiness on his chin was grating on his nerves constantly.

The hot shower was god sent. He was glad that Rowland had paid his utilities before he left for Europe. The razor was not sharp which made him change the blade. During his shave, he had wondered if she had used his razor to shave her legs or another part of her anatomy. Smiling at the that thought, he did not even notice that he had cut himself on the chin. Only that he felt really clean, and his face was clean of the itchiness of a few days stubble. He could never grow a decent beard or mustache, and Candy always made fun of that. Well, now she did not have anything to make fun off. He had almost forgotten what it was like to have a nice hot warm shower after the event of the past few weeks.

He was glad that he himself had paid the Laundromat before he left for Central America. His clothes smelled clean, and it felt so good on his clean body. But the apartment was warm. So he just put on his Calvin and Hobbes boxer shorts. The aftershave was the same brand as his cologne. He did not know why, but he had stayed with this brand for as long as he could remember, and now that he could think about it, he started with this brand when Candy bought him the first bottle. It just smells nice, and made him remember the good times he have had with Candy. Another sigh escaped from his mouth when he remembered Candy sitting in the sitting room waiting for his explanation. Well, there was not a better time than now…

“Nice shirt you’ve got on…” His big grin, and large brown eyes boring into her deep blue ones, and slowly moving down to her smooth thighs, and the hem of his shirt just hiding the white panties with her legs tucked in. He shuddered if he could when he saw that. But he could not, and he did not.

The spoon was a clean one that he used on the fried rice as he sat down in front of her, although it may have been the only clean spoon in the apartment. The apartment had an old cast iron radiator, the one where he was cuffed to, but much can be said about some old things. They sure work, and work better than the new fangled electric heaters. Just like some old thing like him. He just could not take his eyes off hers…

…It was a nice restaurant, a tad bit expensive, but he could afford it. He could not tell her how he could afford it, just that he could. The waiter of course, wanted more money than the fifty that he had initially offered him. But the look on her eyes, drinking in all his features was worth infinitely more than the money spent. Her deep blue eyes…

…looking for the explanation, patiently, as a little bit of the pizza’s tomato sauce escaped at the corner of her lips. The guns did not scare him, but explaining his life did. There was a long scar, barely visible, across his hard chest, and a small round one on the side of his hard stomach. He was lean after having to survive on canned food, and the perpetual free sauna in the jungle. He drank more water than he ate.

“Candy… Where do I start?…”

*Sigh*

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done and put you through. That night at the restaurant, I was there. I was there outside, across the street, bleeding on my chest, looking through the window at you, so lovely sitting there. I was messed up that night, and I just could not face you. I know I should have, but I didn’t. And I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“Do you remember Zhang Zhi Yi? The Chinese guy who went to college with us? The one who was in my math class, and tutored me because my math sucked? Well, his father was apparently from the Chinese Mafia, the Triads. Well, he was in college, because he had lived with his mother since he was little, and his mom was a respectable Chinese grocery shop owner. Totally no connections with his father, until one fine day during our Sophomore year. Imagine his shock when he learnt about his father. Well, to make a long story short, Zhang’s father asked Zhang to carry a package for him. A simple enough job, a few hours at the most, and a lot of pay. Zhang asked me to tag along for half of the pay since I had a car, and I was driving. He didn’t have his license back then. The money was very good, although we knew it was dirty. But we didn’t have to hurt or kill anyone, so we figured it was alright. Many, many such “transportation” jobs later on, we found out the hard way why the pay was so good. A rival Korean gang came on to test the Triads, and we got into a tangle with them. I think I killed one of them, as I left him bleeding but still breathing, with my knife stuck in his chest. I ran that day. With my wounds and my shame that I had been earning and using “dirty money, I just couldn’t face you. The ring I gave you was bought with that money, as did with all those fine dining at those restaurants…”

Jac stood up, still looking at Candy, and her deep blue eyes. He finally broke off contact to get a dink for himself and her. The Coke was flat, but alcohol was definitely not what they needed right now. Although he did entertain thoughts about making her a screwdriver, but the OJ had probably expired.

“I thought I could get out, but I couldn’t. Until one day, Zhang himself wanted out. So we both helped each other. We made one last transport, the biggest pay day of our lives. Zhang’s father was surprisingly understanding, but the Koreans weren’t. We had another tangle with them, this here on my stomach is a bullet wound. We finally got out, barely, but I haven’t touched any dirty money since then. Zhang is now running his mother’s shop. Well, Bert one day, somehow manage to find me, and we met up again. He introduced me to Rowland, whose apartment this is. Bert, as you remember, was the only child, and his parents were rich. Very rich I might add. I made runs to the liquor store, while he did my Poli-Science homework. Do you remember that? Well, he invited me down for a dig in South America, and seeing that I had nothing to do, I agreed. All the time since I had left the triads, I have been working on my own smithy, rebuilding my dad’s one, putting in new machinery and buying better, more expensive grades of steel for my knife making. I gave one, a nice “kris” with a fake ivory handle to him. Well, guess what, the knife was very sharp and worked as intended. Just that I’d never imagined that it would work in such a way…”

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

*Sigh*

“There were other partners in the dig. Professor Alan Smith from the University of Pittsburgh. Matt and David Lebowski from Cincinnati. Chris Jones, I don’t where he’s from, since I’ve never talked to him. Professor Linda Thomas from the University of Kentucky. Ummm… Geraldine Gerard, Mike Pearson, Kenny “the tank” Sherman, and Ana Lindsey. The last four are grad students from the U of K. I’ve never seen Doc Smith, although I’ve heard a lot about him from Bert. They said he had returned home after a fight with Doc Thomas, but no one had ever discussed it in detail. You have met Matt, when you slammed the door in his face, and you’ve seen David, when I slammed the door in his face. I don’t like either one of the brothers, so that felt really good.”

“Matt and his brother are sort of like schoolyard bullies, if you know what I mean. Just plain mean. I mean how often can you break a man’s ribs just because he brought you the wrong drink? Well, a few more times than I’d thought possible apparently. So it felt really good slamming that car door on his face. I bet he wasn’t expecting that. I’m not sure why these two Neanderthals are with the dig. They sure don’t look like archeology students to me. More like bruisers from a club.”

He was tired before, and still was, but the food and drink did help, a little bit. He was sighing more, as he tried to explain the circumstances. It was not easy, as he tried to keep Bert’s face out of his mind, not too successfully.

“Now, Doc Thomas is one who gives the meaning to a cold woman. Icy cold. She makes you look like a fiery volcano in comparison. She was cold to Bert and myself, always seeing us in a bad light, and that we were not supposed to be there. But the U of Pittsburgh and Bert’s father helped pay for the dig, so she gritted her teeth a lot. G, short for Geraldine, was Bert’s honey, if you know what I mean. The others, I seldom see, as Bert told me that they were always going off on their own on Doc Thomas’ orders.”

“Our camp was pretty far away from the dig site. The creature comforts of civilization could not be ignored, and the village downstream was a good site to have base camp. Sometimes we would camp out at site for a few days, three at the most, but no more, as we would inevitably be stinking and turning each other’s noses. And none of us could cook out in the jungle worth a hoot anyway. So, the dig was progressing just fine. It was a Mayan ruins, and the carvings were absolutely stunning. In fact, I learnt to draw so that I can etch some of the images on my knives…”

“One day, Bert got a message from Doc Smith, and he ran off for a week. Now that was strange as Bert was not a Boy Scout, and he couldn’t camp out that long. The rest were gone as well, so I was alone at the village with nothing to do except take 4 baths a day. Then, an Indian kid came to me with a message from Bert, saying that he had solved Doc Smith’s puzzle, well not Doc Smith’s per se, but you understand. He told me to go to the ruins where I was drawing those carvings to meet him. I did, and that’s where I found him lying on the ground with my gift in his back. Unfortunately, that’s when Doc Thomas and the rest happen to show up, and accusations from their eyes started to show. I panicked and ran, like I did so long ago…”

His eyes were still locked on hers as he explained. He was a coward, and he knew it. Psychologists say that admitting something is wrong is the first step towards recovery. Unfortunately, he did not feel that the advice was working at all.

“The villagers are my only alibi, Candy. But I don’t think that the authorities would take the word of half dressed “savages” over the credentials of a college professor and her students. Bert’s last words to me were that a clue was behind the Huckleberry Finn book. That was what I was doing when you found me, except that there was nothing behind that book. And he told me that Doc Thomas was responsible, which was why I ran faster than usual, as she had numbers over me. Again, the authorities would not believe a dead person anyway. So now, they are after me, thinking I know something, which I don’t, and the authorities are after me thinking that I’m guilty, which I’m not. And I’ve no proof other than what I can find once I’ve figured out Bert’s last words…”

“I’m so, so, so sorry Candy. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to make you happy. I never told you this, but in my sophomore year in college, my dad stopped sending me money. Something about me being a bum and all. Go figure, since I’d pretty good grades. And then this golden opportunity with Zhang came along at the right time. I just couldn’t say no, as I wanted to make you happy and be in college at the same time. We’re never asked or had to hurt anyone, so I figured it was alright and that’s why I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry. I’ve done some really stupid things in my life, but the most stupid was leaving you. I don’t know if you have it in your heart to forgive me, but when the Koreans came, I knew that I couldn’t and wouldn’t want you to be involved. That was why I left. I knew that I had to give nothing that could be traced back to you and put you in danger. I loved you and…”

“…and I still do, very much so. I love you Candy. I’m sorry that you’re involved in this new mess that I’m in right now. I just want to make you happy, and everything that I’ve done so far has had the opposite effect. I’m sorry. Please you’ve gotta believe me. I still love you, and I don’t want you to be involved in this. Matt and David are more of savages than the gentle Indians of Central America. I don’t want you to get hurt…”

Jac moved closer, kneeling down in front of her. The guns were still on her lap, but it would be a pleasant way to die, being killed by a woman that he loves. He raised his hands and cupped the sides of her head, running his fingers through her wet curls. He never took his eyes off her deep blue ones.

“I’m sorry Candy…”

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy let him talk uninterrupted. She had had her turn to let all the emotions of the past loose and now she would give him his turn as well. Not that she had given him any chance to interrupt her or maybe he just knew better.

While she listened she felt a battle going on inside her between her heart and head. He had always had the power to sway her with his words and his open emotions but her head and the hurts of the past made it difficult for her to give in and believe all the things he was telling her.

Then when he came near and placed his hands on her face, when she could feel his hands running through her hair she lost it. She could feel the tears well up behind her lids and him seeing her cry was the last thing she wanted right now. The nearness and familiar smell of him was making her head swim and right now she needed to be thinking straight.

Taking his hands from her face but not in a harsh manner, she picked up the guns on her lap and placed them on the couch. Standing she went to the window which was covered with a venetian blind and leaned against the wall. The fact that she did not hold a gun on him let him know that she was at least willing to give him the benefit of a doubt.

Closing her eyes she tried to will herself not to give into her emotions but she could feel tears escaping from under her lids and coursing down her cheeks all the same. When she spoke it was in a very controled voice as if she were trying to keep the fact of her weakness from him.

"What made you think that I was the kind of girl you had to give fancy things to in order to stay around," She said her emotions apparent even through her effort at hiding them,"When did I ever ask you for expensive things or nights on the town? When did I ever tell you that I wanted more than your company? More than the promise of spending my life with you?"

She was hugging herself now, trying not to shake with the emotions that coursed through her.

"You could have given me a ring from a quarter machine and I would have been just as happy. It was the promise behind it that mattered to me. Not it's value on the open market."

She placed her head on the wall beside her as if the effort of keeping her head up were too much for her.

"Dammit, Jac! I told you time and again that your obsession with easy money was going to be the end of something. Well it was. It was the end of us. The end of a dream that could have really mattered. I thought that a life with me would be more than enough for you. I guess I thought wrong."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

He had lost her.

He definitely did not deserve her.

Not after what he had put her through. Not after all the lies that had been his life ever since that fateful car trip to deliver a package. It was suppose to be sort of like a ticket out of the life that he have had up to that point. He had never seen but heard often of all the good things in life that his friends used to tell him that they had at home. He had never seen an anniversary gift from his father to his mother. He had never seen a birthday cake, not at home at least, but only in the shops and at other people’s houses.

He had lost her.

But who is to say what is lost cannot be found again?

“…It was the end of us…”

He knew that. Knew was the key word here. He knows not what will happen next. There was only one thing left to do. Fate had found them together again. Whether they will be together remained to be seen. He had to try, with nothing left to lose, and everything to gain. He crossed the intervening space to be directly in front of her. His eyes, once again locked on to hers. His arms were propped up against the wall. She could escape if she wanted to, but Jac had to try…

We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming
What we'd have to go through
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you

No one told me
I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
This is the start…

Her hair was not this red the last time he remembered. She must have dyed it some more, or his memory was not as good as it was. All he had was an over-handled picture of her in his wallet. It was old, although he had remembered quite vividly when that picture was taken.

The sun was shining brightly, but the cold air made the sun more of a comfort than a nuisance. It was a nice day to be outside. Definitely nice, especially when one with his girlfriend had to watch her nieces and nephews for a day out in the park. The swings and see-saw, and the inevitable bruises on the knees and elbows, and of course the mud and dirt from the hard-packed ground. Definitely a nice day, with a picnic basket and a camera, of course. She was on the roundabout, with him swinging it around with one hand, a camera with the other, an eye on the children and the other on her flying, flaming hair.

Snap… The shutter of the camera clicked loudly…

Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Live is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you

Her eyes were, and still are, her greatest features. The lips and mouth, and unquestionably the body, can lie and often do. But the eyes were a window into the soul, and they do not lie. The blue amongst the sea of white. Sometimes calm, like the turquoise seas with a nice breeze, blowing away all cares and troubles. Sometimes furious, like the hurricanes and cyclones that batter the coast. Sometimes, in between, when love, calm and furious, was the only thing that made a difference.

The street lamp was bright in the foggy night. The wooden bench was cold to touch and sit on. But they were warmed by their hearts. Eyes that had only each other in view, mind and soul. The outside world was freezing with sleet and snow, but they were warm, so warm. The frat party was just beginning, but they had left early, to be alone with other, locking out the rest of the world. There would be many more such nights, but the first was always the best and most fondly remembered. Underneath the stars and skies, and fog and cold wooden benches, when he first declared his love for her.

We were strangers
On a crazy adventure
Never dreaming
How our dreams would come true
Now here we stand
Unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you

Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Live is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you

Her lips were quivering, just like his, even as the words of the song came through, just like theirs on that first night under that street lamp in the cold. He did not have the words himself to sufficiently describe his heart to her. But this song, from the movie Anastasia, sung by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis, became their unofficial song. So long ago, so young… and yet, they were now starting on a their journey again…

I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me alone in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart

Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Live is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing…

“At the beginning with you…” as his lips drew close, so close to hers, almost touching but not quite. A solitary tear escaped from his eye, his heart pounding against her chest, and his arms touching hers. The echoes of the song lingered in the air. The outside world was locked out… with his eyes tearing… with his lips so close… so close…

 

[SecretDesires]

God, he knew how to get to her. She wanted to move, to get away from the song that had haunted her all these years but she felt frozen like a deer in the headlights. She could do nothing but look into his eyes and shiver as the song seemed to cut like a knife into her very soul.

The tears would not stop coming and in the back of her mind she sensed him drawing nearer to her and her breath caught in her throat as the song came to an end.

They were close enough to feel each other's heartbeats, close enough for her to feel his breath on her cheek, to catch the very smell of him as his lips almost brushed hers.

"Damn you, Jac," She said in a soft whisper, as she put her hands on his chest, feeling his rappidly beating heart at her fingertips,"The next diamond you get me better not come with any strings attatched that don't include a wedding chapel or I will cut your heart out and mail it to the police myself."

And then she was leaning into him, closing the gap between them and beginning a kiss that would commit her to him and the quest to prove his innocence. Sliding her hands up around his neck she drew him down to her and moaned against his lips as she felt his strong arms surround her and draw her so near there was no gap at all between them.

The kiss was deep and passionate, full of the regret and hopelessness that both of them had experienced for all this time. Her lips parted beneath his and her hands ran through his hair. She was drinking in the smell and touch of him as a dying man drinks in water. She pressed herself against him, afraid that if the contact was broke he would disappear and it would be just another dream she had to wake up from. She shivered as his hands caressed her back and she could feel the warmth of them beneath the shirt she was wearing. Melting into him even more if that were possible she wanted this kiss to last forever, to never wake up from it, to stay here with him and have the world go away.

She knew it was not possible. She knew that reality would intrude soon enough and that the people who were hunting them would put everything they had found again in jepardy but for right now she was with him and that was all that mattered.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

The kiss came unexpectedly. It was hope that was eternal, but never expected. It was like how he remembered it, and more. Much, much more. It was so long ago, and yet, like a blink of an eye, space and time merged. Love is eternal, just like hope.

… Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey…

Now and forever. His kiss, on her soft lips, with their tongues intertwining, promised her, just as his heart did, that Now and Forever, he would be hers. And hers alone. A solemn promise, one that he had never made before, scared him just a little. But Now and Forever was such a short span of time that he knew, not guessed or hoped, that he would keep that promise. Not from a priest at church that asked him to, nor even God Himself, but he and he alone made it.

His hands enveloped her in his embrace feeling the tiny twinges that her heart was making. Then the thin material of his shirt that covered her smooth skin became a fog as he unbuttoned a few and drank in her smooth skin. It was then that he first saw the wound, now beginning to bleed a little from the racing of her heart and their passion. His lips slowly moved down her chin, tracing the outline. Down to her neck, where he planted tiny kisses to stake his claim. Down to the cleft of her shoulders, and on to her clavicle bone…

The wound was bleeding a little bit more. He wanted to kiss the wound, and somehow, miraculously, it would heal itself. His own pain was represented by the captivity of his boxer shorts. The hard throbbing, and trickle that flowed down his thighs could not be stopped. He knew also she could feel that as well. But his heart felt her pain, as he tasted the fiery metallic taste of the red blood. It was painful enough without breaking contact with her, as well as putting his passion on hold.

The medicine cabinet was not far away, something for which he was grateful. He walked quite funnily, almost bow-legged, as the sensitive skin could not bear rubbing against the cloth of his boxers too much. One thing about Rowland was that, although he had no taste whatsoever, he knew how to be comfortable. There was a really large beanbag near the radiator. Jac sat Candy down on the beanbag, and got behind her. The bullet had luckily just graze the skin. A little bit of cleaning, some antiseptic cream, and voila! Now he could return to their passion, and their declaration of love for each other…

He could feel the tension in her shoulders. Much of it he had presumed to arise from him. Somehow he needed to ease away that tension. Somehow easing away the pain that was hers, which he wished he could take onto himself. The thumbs moved first. The shoulder muscles and the nape of her neck were the easiest to massage. He was careful not to touch the wound, but with so much area to cover, it was easy to accomplish. The shirt became a memory when he lifted it over her head. So too was the bra that was in the way of his fingers. He took enormous pleasure in just a simple act like removing clothes from a woman’s body. He had of course forgotten how it felt like; since he had been the “one-arm-bandit” from the day he left her.

The muscles of her arms and lower shoulders were a bit harder. Those required pressure from his fingers, something that he had been taught. His arms were strong, from the constant exercise in his smithy. The pressure came from only his fingertips, knowing every nerve on her back, soothing it along the way. It felt really good to be even touching her skin again.

As the fingers wove their magic, his lips were busy as well. Her ears and neck offered such a wonderful opportunity that he could not pass over. He had read that some women do not like men to be slobbering in their ears. But he was not slobbering, just kissing, and playing with his tongue on her ear lobes. Playfully so, almost like tickling, but definitely more sensuous. Her smooth neck received the same attention to detail. He was not in a hurry, and his lips and tongue conveyed that.

The massage inevitably turned to touching. Light fingertips touches, as he learns again her body. And inevitably, with a life of their own, his hands snaked to the front to cup her breasts. So soft, silky and alluring, and yet firm with a hard tip. Down to her flat stomach, and inevitably down to the mound, still covered by her panties. His fingers softly caressed her through the thin cotton material of her panties. Gently circling with his fingers. Lightly tracing and moving…

The passage of time did not matter. He did not even notice that the rain had stopped and the street lamps are on. He only noticed how much he had missed being this close to Candy. He missed his playful kisses on her neck and ears. He missed the feel of her breasts on the palms of his hands. He missed all that and more.

He let the huge beanbag swallow them as he turned her to lie with him. Every feature of her face came flooding back to him. The kiss that paid attention to her neck was now paying attention to her lips. He had almost forgotten how it was like to be kissed, and to kiss so passionately, with so much wild abandonment that was love.

He freed her and himself of the last vestments that separated them. But the kiss was still what mattered most. The deep longing that was only now fulfilled. The kiss that bound them together…

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy moaned as she felt Jac's hands upon her. His touch heated her skin and ignited an old fire that she thought was long dead. How many nights had she lay there thinking about his touch, his gentle love making, torturing herself with memories best left buried. And now he was here and his fingers and mouth were carressing her shivering form, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

In the back of her mind a voice told her that she should be angry still, that she shouldnt have given in so easily, that he had hurt her too bad to get this close to her. She shut them up with a sharp command. The feeling of him being so close was not something she was going to stop willingly.

Murmuring a protest as he pushed her down into the chair and feeling the loss of his body contact and heat, she had to smile as she saw the way he walked to the bathroom. At least some of what he had told her was true. He still had feelings for her.

Sighing with impatience she allowed him to doctor her, flinching only a bit when the medicine was applied and the bandages placed. She expected him to come around to her and begin again where he left off and was feeling reality and the voices intruding again when she felt his hands on her back, massaging the tired, tense muscles and she melted at his hands. He remembered how much she had loved his massages, the memory of him behind her as she studied loosing the tense muscles came to mind. A simpler time and place. But his touch in the here and now was just as soothing and comforting and she leaned into his hands as a soft gasp was jerked from her when he hit a muscle that was sore.

She was completely in his hands then and she did not protest when he removed her shirt and bra, even shrugged out of them impatiently only relaxing again when his hands returned to caress her flesh again, the warmth of their skin growing with the contact.

Candy's head fell to the side as Jac's mouth sought out the soft, sensitive spots there and she leaned back into him, her hands coming up above her head to entwine in his hair and her head on his shoulder small hissing sounds of pleasure coming from her as her skin seemed to take on a life of it's own under his careful and methodical attentions.

His hands moved from her back around to cup her breasts and her back arched in pleasure as her own hands came to rest upon his, lightly covering them as they caressed her soft mounds and hardening nipples, encouraging him to continue. Not to stop now for there was no going back.

Moving with his hands as they glided down her waist and belly she began to moan again softly. Only when his hands sought out her soft mound did she move them, lightly raking her fingernails up his arms as he began to wring new fires within her soul.

Half turning her head to face him she whispered his name and her need for him with a soft breath on his cheeks and he moved to lay them both down on the beanbag chair which now felt like the softest, luxurious bed she had ever lain upon. Reaching out with her arms, she welcomed him and his body next to her. Moving her hips she helped him shed the last of her clothing and moved her hands down his hips to help him become just as unencumbered.

Then they were truly together, their bodies touching and reacting to each other. Arching her back and entwining her arms about his neck to pull him down to her she gloried in the feel of his body against hers. Their lips met again and the kiss was long, passionate and untainted just as their kisses of the past had been.

Candy flicked her tongue against his mouth bidding him to open and let her explore and he did not hesitate. While their mouths and tongues touched so did their hands, running over every available inch of flesh they could find. Her hands moved from his hair and neck to his back where she ran her fingernails down his muscled body enjoying the moans he was now mixing with hers.

Their breaths mingled again and again as their kiss broke only to be resumed with ever heightening passion. Her hands were now on his ass, kneading the flesh in her fingers even as she moved with him in a dance of passion, her nipples becoming painfully hard as they rubbed against his chest. She found her body could not stop moving. Every part of her wanted to be touching every part of him and she moved to give into that want only to find when she moved a new part of her fell back from his touch an aching feeling where the tingle of thier explorations remained.

Breaking off the kiss to gain back her breath, Candy placed small kisses alongside his mouth toward his ear, whispering to him as she did so. "Don't think this lets you off the hook," She said, her need of him thickening her voice,"You are still my prisoner." Biting gently at his earlobe she added,"I wont let you go again."

With a heartfelt groan, she ran her hand down his buttocks and began to stroke the hard maleness that lay against her leg, taking her time to be reacquainted with his body even as the kiss began again. Stroking his thighs, hips and manhood, she felt more alive than she had in a long time and never wanted this moment to end.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

“…I won’t let you go again…”

He would not leave even when forced to do so. Not even by an act of God. He would be like the incessant mosquito, thinking about only one thing, survival. Well, she was his life before, and now once again. So it was like for his own survival that he could not, and will never leave again. The scratches on his arms should have brought pain signals to his brain, but all they did were bring more pleasurable signals. It was all about survival…

Her nipples rubbed so sensuously against his body that they became like little fingers. Little fingers that caressed his own nipples, making them hard as well. Little fingers that conformed to every part of his body. Her skin silky soft, and yet rippling hard, as her own body conformed as well to his. Like melding into each other. Made for each other it seemed. God’s purpose was well served when he experimented with Adam and Eve. God’s purpose became his purpose. He found, once again, his soul melding so completely with hers.

And damn! When her hands engulfed his manhood, he twitched so hard that the pain did register in his brain. The shiver that ran from the top of his spine to the bottom of his feet felt so good. So good that the pain instantly, and miraculously, became pleasurable. It was a lame explanation, but he did not care about the rest world, not that the world cared much about him in turn. Only that he cared about the woman he loves, and how he was making her feel like a woman once again, and of course, letting him feel like a man again.

He broke off the kiss to proceed to give the same kind of attention to the rest of her body. It was also a good enough excuse, as his direction went only so far as her breasts. Her hard nipples, the little fingers, were too much for him to resist. He did resist at first, oh, for about a second, plus or minus, roughly… This time, he used his teeth as well as his lips and tongue. A Concerto of the mouth on her nipples. An Adagio of the tongue… A Cadenza of the teeth… A Coloratura of the lips… Playing the music that only both of them can hear.

His hands seemed so rough on her, but in fact they were just remembering. Remembering every part of her. Remembering as if he can or will forget, and which he will be unable to. Such was the task of his hands. Starting with the curvature of her shoulders and arms. Then down to the lovely round shape of her breasts, the curve that flowed so naturally down to her stomach. The little hole that was her belly button. Such an excellent place to tickle her. Then there was her exquisite waist, so strong and soft at the same time, that was joined from there, down to vee of where her thighs began. The supple thighs that led to her knees and beyond, rocking against him, capturing both his body and spirit. This task was accomplished in but an instant, ready to start all over again. Just could not get enough of the remembering it seemed.

He moved back up, to where he can watch her eyes again. Those deep blues one, the sea of passion shining from them. His hands quickly followed suit in the same destination. He ran his fingers through her red hair, tracing the ears as well. He used to do this a lot… so long ago. Just the feel of her soft hair, and the skin that lay beneath. The color of which did not represent the clichés about redheads. Not at this point in time anyway. The tangle of curls that he had always wanted, and frequently did, untangle. Untangled to flow so artlessly in between his fingers. Indescribable of feeling to be doing it again, and again, and again…

The lobes of her ears that beckoned to be tickled, teased until she laughed a hearty pleasurable laugh. The sound of laughter that could have came only from Angels. The smell of her hair that wafted so deep into him. The smell of her skin that he could never forget, and always remembered well. The smooth skin of her neck, with tiny, tiny hairs that stand up when lightly touched. Feathery light. His lips, feeling a bit left out, decided to join in the Arpeggio with his hands. Her tongue so sweet with his. Her little bow of lips that parted easily…

…As easily as the Lips of her Secret Place. The entrance to Heaven as he knew it. His hardness played in its own Concerto well. A solo Flutist, that sometimes parted the Lips slightly to gain entrance, but had yet to fully enter. Sometimes, a just inundating the Valley with its moisture, mingling his own with hers. Sometimes a Counterpoint when his heart sends a message to the Flute. Truly an Augmentation of the music that he and he alone can play. A teasing Symphony that could only be in Crescendo. It was playing the Hymn to gain entrance to Heaven. The Pearl at the Gates of her Secret Place received due interest as well. The Flute played so much on her Pearl that it might feel a little raw in the morning…

The Flute was now once again parting the wet Lips, but was also waiting. It was left to the Flutist to gain enough courage to gain entrance to Heaven. Courage that he received from her eyes. Her blue eyes that gave him permission to enter Heaven. The concerto was now at a pause, when the Flute entered passes the Gates, slowly immersing itself into the depths of Heaven.

He had little choice but to pause, and let his heart, the Flutist slow down, as any more Movements would inevitably cause the Flute to end its own Concerto. This, plus the fact, that it was so warm and wet, and that the tight walls so discretely molded itself to the shape of the Flute. But the Concerto must go on, to the finale. The Flutist and his Flute were both so drawn into her depths, that the Concerto resumed by itself, albeit slowly at first, but certainly in Crescendo. A Nocturne that was slowly but surely turning into a Battaglia…

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy was lost in a world that consisted only of his touch. A sharp intake of breath here when he touched her breasts, a moan there when his mouth traveled further down.

Her own hands were busy guiding and encouraging his movements, her body responding to his touch, his smell and the taste of him as their lips sought out each other again and again.

Her back arched and she moaned in dissapointment whenever he moved where she had no contact with his body, seeking that sweet feel of him again. She shivered when he sought and found her moistness and sighed in pleasure as her own body found it's rythm with his, the two seeming to melt together body and soul.

His name fell from her lips in encouragement and the moment of intamacy seemed all too brief and yet as if a lifetime had passed in his arms. She pressed into him then, closer than ever, her arms entwining about him telling him she did not want it to end.

Kissing him deeply as they lay entwined she broke it off to whisper in a husky voice,"Stay with me. Don't leave me yet. I've waited too long." And he heard and understood for his arms went around her, gathering her to him as they lay together locked in their love for each other their legs and arms drawing each other close.

Laying there and hearing his heartbeat against her face, she felt the first signs of sleep overtake her and she drifted off with his name on her lips and his breath warm on her hair.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Was it a dream?

If it was , he did not want to wake up.

Was it all that he had hoped for?

Yes, and more.

What about the future?

It arrived too soon. Should stay in the present, in the moment, longer.

Are you happy?



“…Good Morning San Francisco. It’s a beautiful day out on the Bay Area. The sun is shining. Well, the sun is actually up there, amongst the clouds, believe it or not. A very good morning to all the Fogheads out there in the cold, not seeing the sun. It’s up there trust me. Its Dave Morey and the morning Crew on KFOG FM 104.5 in the Bay Area… This is the New World Rock on KFOG, a classic from the Police call Synchronicity. You remember the Police as only Sting, but believe me, Sting was just the lead bassist and singer… Synchronicity for all the Fogheads and people of San Francisco…”

Waking up to the sounds of Police was not bad. Even better was the sounds of her steady breathing on his chest. Synchronized with the movements of his own breathing. Much, much better. The night was a fog initially, and then every little detail came flooding back. Her magical touches, the smell of her and her hair, and her kiss… All etched so vividly like the etchings on his knives.

Very lightly, he ran his fingers through her hair, letting the reddish curls slip in between his fingers, twirling the ends of it. The light touches on her scalp as his fingers came through. The sound of her soft, very soft moans, punctuated her steady breathing as he did that. He wanted to lay there like that forever and a time. He felt so alive at that moment, a bright new day shining through amongst the gray clouds of his life. He felt so much energy, although his body might have something to say against that.

The thick woolen blanket covered her so entirely except her red hair that he had to suppress a laugh as he walked to the kitchen to make coffee. The fiery red amongst the gray and beige. What a contrast. Rowland had one those java coffee makers that had more aluminum than his car did. But it just sat there on the kitchen, unused as no one could quite understand the instructions. It was back to the old fashioned way of boiling hot water, and instant coffee. Luckily he got the French Vanilla roast, so the smells was positively invigorating. A spoonful of chocolate powder, some sugar and cream, and voila! An instant Mocha. The mix had to be correct, but Jac had been doing this for many years.

“…World Class Rock on KFOG…” The song, Better Man by Pearl Jam came on just as the water was boiling. He remembered this song playing on the car radio, as she and him got in the back seat and started making out. He remembered the bay area was foggy as usual, but it was nice evening. He was the Better Man then. He hoped to be one again now that he had a second chance.

He contemplated of lying there with her again as the first sip of the coffee went down his throat. The smell waking him up some more. It was a no brainer, as he left the coffee warm in the pot, and got back under the blankets with her. His arms slowly and silently snaked themselves around her, as he drew her close, once again to lie on his neck and chest. The smell of her beats the smell of coffee any day.

So what should he do now? Eyes wide awake, body at rest, with her breathing steadily, in concert with his own. The “partners”, Doc Thomas, and especially the Bruiser Brothers will not let him go so easily. Not after what Candy and he did to them. Now, the Bruiser Brothers made a mistake, like he did so long ago, of messing with Candy. She was a good shot, and a fiery temper to match, the clichés about redheads coming through loud and clear against people that she really, really disliked.

What he could not understand was why Doc Thomas would want him, thinking that he had some information, when he did not. Even if he did have some information, what would he know that an expert like Doc Thomas did not. That was what was puzzling him. He was certainly no archeologist. The only archeology that he knew came from the Mummy movies, and a little bit from the Discovery Channel. On the other hand, Doc Thomas and Doc Smith could host those shows on Discovery Channel. They could have been the consultants on those Mummy movies.

What was even more puzzling was that Bert, although a certified archaeologist, was still a baby compared to these two professors. What was so special about Bert that they had to kill him? What had he discovered that led him to his death? It must have been something really important, earth shaking even, that he gave his life for. No. Not gave. Taken away when he was just about to reach his prime. And what about G and Doc Smith? Jac was not sure how far Bert and G had gone in their relationship, but by the frequent disappearances into the jungle behind the village, it would seem that they were more than “just friends”. Doc Smith might have some answers, but he might be too far away. And what the hell did Bert meant when he said behind Huck Finn? It should be obvious, just that it sure as hell was not.

So many questions, and no answers.

“…KFOG, home of World Class Rock…”

He just laid there, as the last chorus of White Wedding by Billy Idol, faded in the background. Candy would definitely want a White Wedding, that was for sure. And he was glad to give it to her, once this mess was finally over.



Yes, he was happy, happier than ever before despite the cloud over his head.

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy stirred. There was a noise in the background that kept bringing her back from the nice, warm cocoon she was laying in and it irritated her to no end. Burrowing down into the covers more she tried to tune the sound out but it was no use. With a sigh she opened her eyes and looked around.

The first thing she saw was a male chest and arms. In fact the arms were wrapped around her and she wondered for a moment what the hell she had done the night before to wake up next to somebody. It took her a moment to remember how she had been contracted to bring in her ex fiancee and how they had ended up in each others arms and, apparently were still in that position.

Candy's gaze traveled up Jac's chest to his neck, chin, and finally she sleepily locked gazes with him. He looked down at her with a smile and she glared at him. She was definately not a morning person and she could not for the life of her understand how someone could wake up in such a good mood. It never phased Jac though who took her morning moods in stride. It was one of the things she loved about him. Any man that could put up with her first thing in the morning and still have a smile on his face deserved a reward as well as a medal.

Shaking her head she gave him a quick kiss on the chin and then moved beneath the covers again. She wasn't going back to sleep, unfortunatly but she refused to give up the warmth that she was wrapped in without a fight.

"Phone," she said as she turned around under the blanket and headed to where Jac's legs now stretched. She seldom talked in more than one syllable until at least her third cup of coffee but he would get the idea.

Popping her head out from under the covers she reached for her cell phone which she had laid on the coffee table along with the guns the night before. Grabbing it she turned to travel again up to where Jac's waiting arms were and, snuggling into them she dialed the number to Mike's private office.

The phone was picked up on the third ring and Abbey's voice, concerned and relieved at the same time came over it. They had worked out this system a long time ago for when Candy had gotten into situations that required her to lay low for a bit. Abbey would go to Mike's place through a back entrance that was locked and only Mike, Abbey and Candy had the key. Mike had been a friend to her almost as long as Abbey had and he had helped her out of more than one scrape.

"Candy!" Abbey's voice hit her ears a little too loud and she had to pull the phone back from it,"What...where...I had police come into the office and search the place not two hours after you left! They said...."

Candy thought this was a good place to cut the conversation short. The police might know that Candy had a connection with Mike and they might have followed Abbey to Mikes though she knew how to shake a tail almost as well as Candy did.

"Listen," She said to her,"Go to this address..." She recited the address of the apartment she had been to the day before. "And look around as best you can without calling attention to yourself. You might not be able to get into the apartment but do your best. I need you to tell me everything you see relating to a book of Huck Finn. Pictures, notes, anything. And look around the outside of the apartment as well. I don't know if that will pan out but we can't take a chance on missing any clues."

Abbey said she would and Candy could almost see her holding back all the questions she wanted to ask knowing the line could be tapped. "I'm fine," She said before hanging up,"And I have been in tighter spots. With your help I will get out of this one too."

Hanging up, she let her head fall back on Jac's arms and closed her eyes as if the effort of talking that much that early in the morning had exahusted her.

"Coffee," She mumbled in a desperate voice and she could hear Jac chuckling above her a moment before she jabbed him lazily in the ribs.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Chuckling still, when Jac finally was forced to leave the warmth of Candy and the blankets to get her the coffee. The jab was playful, but unfortunately she had jabbed him where she had hit him with the gun butt yesterday. It did not help that he was laughing at her lack of caffeine in the morning. Oh Yeah! She was one that actually wakes up with caffeine. He remembered the days when he was late with the coffee, and she had curlers in her hair. Oh yeah! An irate woman with curlers in her red hair clamoring for caffeine…

A fake “ouch” and a rather long walk to the kitchen with a gigantic mug of coffee later, she was ready to start waking up. Jac was ready for another hot shower, which he went and did. It would be better if Candy was in the same shower with him. To save hot water and all that. But that would be too much to ask, and she has had only one cup of coffee. Thankfully all the rest of the people in the apartment had gone to work, so there was a lot of hot water left when he finished.

He was dressed for comfort and warmth, more of the utility than style. Rowland was a martial arts nut, although Jac could kick his ass since Jac started karate classes when he was 12, while Rowland started when he was 24. So one day, Rowland asked Jac to make him some throwing knives, those that he saw in a movie once, those badly dubbed ones. Then, Jac made him a set of fully hardened tip, stainless steel ones, with no handles and a heavier tip so that when thrown it always hit the target tip first. Those are lightweight, and will not rust. It came with a belt to hold 12 knives. And once a shirt was over it, one cannot tell if the knives were there at all. Rowland had also asked for wrist belts that can hold two knives each. Jac rolled down the sleeves to hide those. He was glad that Rowland is a Ninja Movie freak. Jac also took an extendable baton. He had added hardened steel tips, so the Bruiser Brothers would get a nasty painful surprise. It was designed to crack bones and cause internal bleeding. Jac’s master was the local Chinese takeout restaurant owner. It was clichéd but living next door to one seemed ordinary to him at that time. People would come into his dad’s hardware store, and then next door to have lunch or get dinner, or just a drink. It worked for both stores quite well, when his dad agreed to put up lunch and drinks specials posters for Choiu. Special discounts when a customer had a receipt from the hardware store, and vice versa.

Jac motioned Candy to take a shower after almost the entire pot of coffee was finished. He was still smiling, grinning silly actually. Her eyes were bright, and her steps did had a chirpy feel to them. Like fully awake. From her phone conversation, Jac got the impression that they were moving to Mike’s, the bar that he had initially wanted to go into to get some hot food. Well, breakfast there would be just as good. Stale cold pizza or overnight rice was not such a good idea. He wondered who Abbey was, but he thought that he should find out soon, just as soon as he can get the next pot of coffee going again for Candy. The mystery with the Huck Finn book must be solved. He thought about taking the extra gun, but he was definitely not a good shot, and he would be more inclined to hit himself on his foot rather than on the target. He was better off with the deadly throwing knives.

“Candy, I’m going down to get the car warmed up. This apartment has a resident’s garage. It’s cold outside. I have some clean t-shirts and Rowland, I think, still have his sister’s stuff in his room from the time she stayed here. Blouses, pants and jackets, and maybe, clean underwear. And I think also that her makeup stuff is on the dresser top. I don’t think she took them back when she left. She left with her purse only when she dumped her boyfriend. Those should fit you, as you both are about the same size. And oh yeah, there should be a San Jose Sharks cap in there as well,” he shouted over the din of her taking a nice hot shower, as he himself was wearing another Sharks cap. He got a pair of sunglasses, although the day outside was cold, and overcast gray. They had to be as anonymous as possible.

He was not sure why on earth would Rowland get a minivan, since he was still single and he had no one to take to soccer practice or concerts. He did not even have a girlfriend to take out to dinner. His sister did not count. So this was the question that Jac and Bert had asked Rowland many times. Each time, the answer came back as only “It looks beautiful…” With a 3 liter, 210 hp motor with variable valve timing and traction control, it did look good, with the ability for 8 passengers. But at more than 28,000 dollars, it certainly would have looked better, something bigger and with more power. And it was a minivan, not a go-anywhere SUV, which Bert and Jac tried to persuade Rowland to buy in the first place.

Nevertheless, the minivan suited them fine. At the back, the seats can be rolled down to sleep on comfortably if they needed to. The captain chairs were very comfortable, for long drives. The mileage was excellent, although the power was suspect if they ever had to run from the super-charged cop cars. That was not such a far fetched prospect these days, but they are helped by not actually having to steal a car or take public transportation. In his haste to get to Bert’s apartment, he did not even think of going to Rowland’s first and getting the car. Now that he thought about it, he was glad that he did not. At least now, Candy and he had a warm, dry and comfortable ride. Equally important was that a minivan was so ordinary looking that the cops would not normally give it a second glance. Invisibility, sort of, by the way of being ordinary looking, would have to suffice for now.

“…KFOG, World Class Rock…” Jac was tapping his foot, consigned to waiting while his woman got ready to go out. The slow walk downstairs, and slow start to warm up the car helped with the waiting time, not by much though.

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy had forgotten how good Jac's coffee was. She was on her fourth cup and wide awake, writing in her 'handy dandy notebook'...God, she had to stop watching Blue's Clues with her nephew, the program was melting her brain...when he got out and motioned her to go into the shower herself. She had played with the idea of sneaking in and taking a shower with him but she wasn't sure at this point what he would think if she did so she left it alone. Besides, the caffeene level in her system wasn't up to acceptable levels yet.

By the time he was done and had come into the room, Candy had written down a synopsis of what he had told her the night before.


Members of Dig:

Jac: Accused of murdering Albert "Bert" Shultz who invited him to the dig even though he was not experienced in digs.

questions:

What was the purpose of looking Jac up after not seeing him for so long? Suspicions about his fellow members?

Proffessor Alan Smith: Proffessor from the U of Pittsburgh. Got into a fight with Proffessor Thomas and left to go home? This not confirmed as Jac was only told about the Proffessor's leaving. Note to check up on where the Proffessor is now and possibly talk to him...if he is still alive. Somehow Candy thought the possiblity slim but she had to follow all leads.

Proffessor Linda Thomas: Proffessor at U of Kentucky. Did not like Jac or Bert going on the dig but couldn't say anything due to Bert's monetary contributions. Often sent the members of the dig off on thier own without any explanations.

Assumption:

most or all of the members were in on whatever was going on and go Shultz killed. You don't find that many stupid people all in one gathering unless you are at a political campaign.

Geraldine Gerad: had something going with Bert.

Questions:

Where is she and what is she doing now and, most importantly, does she know anything?

Mike Pearson
Kenny "The Tank" Sherman
Ana Lindsey

All grad students from U of Kentucky and all going off at one time or another with Proffessor Thomas or at her command.

Matt and David: Brothers and very nasty people. Not archeologists and seeming not interested in science.

Qestions:

Why would anyone take goons on a dig? Unless someone saw The Mummy too many times they were afriad of someone very much alive stumbling across something.


End Notes:

Took off for a week on Thomas' command even though he was apparently not the best choice for a long term camp on his own. Assumption is that he was not on his own then but who was he with?

Later sent message via native to Jac to come because he had solved "Doc Smith's Puzzle" and Jac found him dead with a knife he, himself had given him. Not looking good for the home team.

Proffessor Thomas and the rest of the team stumbled on Jac just as he was bending over the body. To much of a coincidence? Definately.

Criptic last words from Shultz about something behind the Huck Finn book.


Candy looked at her notes and nodded. As far as she could tell she had everything down that Jac had told her. Looking up as he came out she caught herself thinking that he damn well better be innocent because, looking like that, it would be hell trying to convince herself to take him in. But, then again, he knew very well if he played her for a fool he had better hope the cops are near by when she found out.

Smiling, Candy trapsed off to the shower which felt good this morning after the events of the night before. She paused in her washing just long enough to hear what Jac called to her before resuming without acknowledging it. He would know she heard.

Once out of the shower and towel dried she went over to the dresser and searched until she found what was either Rowland's sister's things or a kinkier side of Rowland than she ever wanted to know about.

Picking out a long sleeved black shirt that was form fitting and came just to below her ribs and a pair of black jeans that hugged her hips leaving her belly exposed she dressed. Most men wouldn't think she had anything but her one gun with her which was visible in it's holster under her left arm. They would be wrong and their underestimation of her would be their worst mistake.

Rummaging around in her discarded clothes she found her back strap that was designed to wrap around her waist and hide beneath her pants. Putting it on and zipping the jeans up she placed the second gun right at the small of her back after making sure the saftey was on and securing it with a strap made for that purpose.

Looking in the mirror she decided that someone might detect the special holder on closer inspection and so she went back to the drawer and took out a wide belt, black like her clothing, and studded with silver designs. It would take the eye off of everything but her slim waist and the belt itself.

Satisfied with her clothing she rummaged around until she found the make up and spent some time on it as she applied it carefully. Jac would be in the car tapping his foot impatiently but he would have to just wait it out. A smile crossed her face as she pictured him doing just that and she grabbed a brush and quickly brushed back her red hair, twisting it into a knot on top of her head before catching it in the Shark's cap and pulling it tight over her forehead.

She found some black, leather boots and placed a small derringer she had found in the dresser and which she assumed had belonged to Rowland's sister as no man would carry a gun like that unless he had no other choice into the right boot being sure it was concealed. Rowland probably bought it for her protection but it didn't look very used. She would have to have Abbey buy some ammo for it and her other guns but that was a consideration for later.

A black, ankle length jacket completed the ensemble and hid any sign she was carrying an extra gun. Looking in the mirror she had to admit it also made her look damn good. With a laugh she picked up her coin purse which held some 'mad money' she always carried just in case and jammed it into the pocket of her jeans.

With one last glance in the mirror she nodded with approval at her image and headed out to the kitchen to grab her notebook and exit the apartment. Heading down stairs to the garage she caught sight of Jac in a mini van and had to laugh. The sight was something to see. Hurrying over she slid into the passenger's side and said,"Let's go. Abbey will be back at Mike's soon and I am starving. Mike makes the best waffles in town as well as coffee that comes in second only to yours."

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

“You look nice. Very nice…” Jac said as he leaned over to give her a soft peck on the cheek.

Jac was still looking at her, up and down, as Rowland’s sister’s clothing fitted Candy to a T. Especially the form hugging black shirt. He assumed that she had on a spaghetti-strap bra by the indentations on the black. And the silver-black belt strap that hid her belly button. Nice. Very nice indeed. The long coat, warm and utilitarian, only added to the whole look of a dangerous woman. And he was not talking about her guns either.

“Go…”

Laughing, his impatience became non existent when he laid eyes on her, he moved out onto the streets. The traffic was not too bad, if you were not in a hurry. They were not, which meant that Jac was not as angry over slow drivers, and those with no manners. Which really meant that, with Candy by his side looking fabulous in black, Jac did not curse at those that did not believe in turn signals or forgot that cars had brake lights. The morning traffic had dispersed a little bit, so the drive was pleasant and quick. There were cop cars almost at every junction it seemed to him, but they did not give the champagne colored minivan more than a cursory glance. Things were going well.

It would be pushing his luck a little bit by parking out in front of Mike’s. So Jac took a slight detour to get on the side road behind Mike’s. The alleys of the city were wide, so maneuvering through them was a breeze. Compared to the main streets where there will always be idiotic drivers, he preferred the winding and dirty alleys better. Mike also had a faded sign out back, but Jac being the man that he was, did not ask for directions from the navigator sitting so beautifully beside him. He missed the empty parking space just behind the bar, which meant going all the way round again for a second try. And on the second come-around, the parking space was taken up. Life in the city, with bad drivers, and no parking.

“Don’t say anything about my driving and my sense of direction, love…” as they got out to walk to Mike’s through the back door. At least the minivan was parked near the main street, where escape with the car was easier and quicker, although offset by the distance that they had to walk.

“And don’t say anything about my parking either. I found the perfect spot…” Jac said with a grin, knowing that his luck in finding good parking spots was bad. He remembered the time when they had to walk like miles to go see a concert just because he did not ask for directions. In the end, the piggy back ride to the car after the concert mollified Candy a little bit, the sore feet and back was the only payment that he had to endure.

He did not even ask how she got the key through the back door. And before that, where the hell did that particular door appear from. Initially he had thought that they were going in through the proper back door, the one with the faded sign. And then she unerringly led him sideways down a small alley, and right smack into a door before he got his bearings all figured out. It was very cleverly hidden from the main alley itself, and if one did not properly explore the alleys, it might be just another wall of the buildings. Very neat indeed.

There were still a lot of things that he did not know about Candy, and she would prefer to keep it that way. The ever mysterious woman, taking the advice of all those women’s magazines spouting about how women should always keep their men in the dark. Not that he would have comprehended any of it anyway. Moreover, a mysterious woman was eminently more sexy and dangerous, and he still was not talking about the 3 guns hidden on her black-clad body.

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy only gave a sigh as Jac missed the parking spot and had to go around again. It was something that she had stopped fighting long ago. She had found it did no good to point out anything with his driving and she had stopped for her own peace of mind.

When they were together in college she had numerous friends ask her how she stayed so slim. As a response she said simply,"I let Jac drive." The friends were puzzled by that statement up until the time they actually rode with him and then they tended to let that question rest.

Moving to the alleyway where the door she knew well was hidden, she produced the key and let them in. The room they entered was used for storage now with only a table and a few chairs in the middle to attest that maybe it might be more than that. Of course, one might assume that they were a stored item as well until it was noticed that there was no dust on either table or chairs which meant the room was used often enough to be cleaned. Actually it was a place for very close friends of Mike to hang out or hide out, whatever the case may be, when needed. Not that Mike dealt in anything illegal but he did have clients who were in businesses that got them into trouble with those who didn't care to have them stay alive. Candy was one and this room was very familiar to her.

Going to a wall on to her left, Candy hit a button on the wall. Nothing seemed to happen but she turned to Jac and said,"May as well sit down. Mike will be awhile. If I know him he will be throwing together a breakfast tray before coming down."

She saw the puzzled expression on his face and understood. To all appearances there was no way out of the room, no door, no windows, no exit and the entrance seemed in no way connected to the tavern.

"This place was established before prohibition. When that law was passed the owners of the time built this small room on as a a place where clients who wanted to pay well could, shall we say, get around the nasty detail that liquer was illegal. Since then it has been used as a mobster hideout, a place for smugglers to stash their goods and a storage area. When Mike bought it he used it for storage but started getting clients who were in business that poked their noses into dangerous people's daily goings on and he uses it to help his close friends out of tight spots. Me being one he has helped many a time."

She could see Jac was getting ready to ask how one got into the room if there was no door when she heard a noise behind her. Standing, she placed on hand on the gun holstered under her arm and stood back from the wall on the left that seemed to be opening up and swinging inward toward the room. She relaxed as Mike entered into the room and smiled at the tray he had brought with him. On it were waffles, syrup, toast, jams and jellies, bacon and sasauge, a bowl of fruit, a decanter of orange juice and, more importantly, a fresh pot of coffee. Oh, how she loved this man.

Mike entered and pressed a hidden panel beside the opening and the wall which was hidden beneath a wine rack with actual bottles of wine in them began to close again. A quick glimpse past the door and around Mike's ample girth gave a look into a normal wine cellar that housed all of his fine liquer.

"Mike," She said giving the big, burly man a hug,"You are a lifesaver!" Picking up the pot of coffee she poured herself some noticing the dark glances the bar owner was throwing at Jac. Apparantly Abbey had let him in on all she knew which was not even half the story. Mike had a soft spot for Candy and he did not like it when she was put into danger.

"Mike," she said by way of introduction,"This is Jac. Jac...Mike." After the two men had nodded politely to each other Candy began to tell the owner about all that had been going on including the frame up of Jac and everything after that. By the end of her story her friend had lost his dark looks and he was looking at Jac with that look that told you you could count on him no matter what. He trusted Candy's instincts and, if she believed Jac than he would too."

Then Mike spoke up in that deep bass voice of his that seemed to come from the bottom of his shoes. "So, whats the plan," He said and Candy wished she knew the answer to that question.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Mike was a big guy, with hams for forearms, trucks for thighs and body like a dozer. The look that he gave Jac had that really sinister connotations behind it, the kind that had baseball bats, and knuckle dusters. But his smile when things were explained gave Jac the confidence to shake his outstretched hand in greetings. Whew! For a while there, he thought that he was going to be run over by a gruff-voiced Mack truck named Mike.

“So, what’s the plan?”

It was the single question that Jac had no answer for, which was why he just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in between bites of the waffles so thick with butter and excellent Mrs. Butterworths maple syrup. Truly gourmet cooking, not noticeable from the outside that Mike was such a good cook. The bar definitely had a run-down look. He was right in his first assessment that it held treasures. And he thought of only beer and beer nuts. Not gourmet waffles or eggs or bacon or sausages… He was definitely eating more than he was supposed to. Because, after a while of takeout Chinese food and pizza, this was a fine breakfast indeed.

He nearly choked when the wall opened again to show the wine racks. Candy and Mike stood up so fast ready for anything that it had seemed like a blur. He was still chewing on the bacon when he discretely took out one of his knives and palmed it, hidden from view. He raised his hand, just in time to see a slim woman with brown hair and hazel eyes walked in like she owned the place.

“Abbey!…”

“Candy!…”

The two women hugged each other like long lost friends, which by all accounts they could have been, ever since Jac got back into Candy’s life. Up against Mike, hugging him in turn, she looked like twig to his huge oaken body. A fragile twig.

“…And who is this handsome man?…” she looked at me, like a piece of meat, in a good way of course.

“Abbey, I’d like you to meet Jac. Jacob Kendall. We are ummm… friends…”

“What!!…” she looked at me like a piece of meat, ready to be horribly butchered and cooked over a slow fire. A very slow slaughter and even slower fire.

“Abbey, before you shoot him, let me explain…”

“It’d better be damn good, and he better be helluva good in bed for me not to kill him…”

And so, for the second time this morning, Candy had to explain the circumstances leading to the warrant for Jac’s arrest. As Abbey listened, the daggers inherent in her glances to Jac softened, and finally disappeared at the end of the story. To be replaced by questioning eyes, the ones that women have for each other to ask and answer about naughty things, naughty and private things about men no doubt.

“…so what you’re telling me is that a dead man’s last words may hold the clue to his innocence?”

“Well, I’ve been to the apartment like you asked and there is nothing there that I could connect the Huck Finn book with…” Abbey said with an arch of her eyebrows, which can mean many things, but mostly naughty ones, which in turn brought an embarrassed cough from Jac.

“Damn, that is the only clue that I have to give…”

“Before that, Candy, you owe me 21.19. Let’s see, 1 buck by Muni light rail to your place. And oh, the cops were there before, so I just committed breaking and entering into a police cordoned area. I couldn’t risk taking a bag of your clothes, but I did get clean underwear. Add 3.20 to that by me taking the BART to Market Street. Oh, you may ask why would I even go to Market Street? Well, I happen to see a car, with two men in it that was suspiciously parked out in front of your apartment building. These two don’t look like cops, having bandages all over their face. And one of them, with a bandaged hand, followed me down to the subway. They look like brothers that you’ve just described. Anyway, I lost them on Market Street. While I was there, I bought you this nice blouse, which was on sale. So add 8.99. Then add 2 dollars for taking the cable car across the bay, 5 bucks for taking the ferry back, and 1 dollar for taking the Street Car to here. It’s a really nice blouse. I even got one in light blue for myself. Put it on your tab of those that you own me?”

Candy could only nod, and Jac could only wonder at the stupid persistency of the Bruiser Brothers. But by the confident look on Abbey’s face, the Bruiser Brothers were taken on a tour of San Francisco by this spunky young woman. She took swigs at the OJ and little bites of the fruit before continuing.

“I looked all round the apartment and I couldn’t find the connection of the book to the clue. I even searched his bedroom and bathroom, and nadda, zippo. Then I took a long and slow walk around the neighborhood. Twice. And still nothing. I did withdraw money from the bank, since I’d to get some for the trip home, by taxi, which I’m also putting on your tab. The ATM machine was out of order, so I had to go in and face the rude ass bitch of a teller. Why couldn’t I have gotten in the next line where there was a cute teller? Just my luck that I missed that… Sigh!”

Another bite of the fruit went down, as they digested this new information, which was not helpful in anyway, except that the Bruiser Brother and the cops were still on their trail. This mystery was not getting deeper, that was sure. Another thing that was sure as well was that it was not getting solved either.

“And of yeah, the main door of the bank is directly behind the bookcase. I noticed that when I was walking out. The window is slightly off to one side, so I assumed, and I’m rarely wrong that, so that’s what is behind the bookcase. Anyway… So tell me Candy, how on earth did you meet this fellow?” she closed batting her eyelashes at Jac, which should bring a warning look from Candy, but surprisingly did not.

Damn, another useless piece of information, Jac thought to himself. The day was drawing on, and they were still no where close to solving the puzzle of Bert’s last words. Why did it have to be so damn cryptic? It seemed now that they have to find Professor Smith, and ask him about the dig. He was getting nowhere, although he was very grateful for Abbey’s help, which he conveyed with his smile. The coffee and caffeine was fully coursing through his veins now, but he could not rack his brain enough to come up with a solution or any answers to all those questions.

 

[SecretDesires]

Candy stood there listening to Abbey, her bottom lip pinched between thumb and forefinger like always when she was thinking hard. Shaking her head she went over everything piece by piece. The fact that the brothers were after them was no surprise and she felt confident that Abbey had lost them somewhere in the city. She had been with Candy too long not to be able to shake anyone tailing her.

Nodding wordlessly at the expense she did not even let it filter through. Abbey was in charge of the books so it would be taken care of. She was just telling Candy out of curtesy and a bit of good natured bragging.

In answer to the question given she said,"We met in college, got engaged, he disappeared with no word and now he is framed for murder." Her mind was not on the question but on the puzzle before them instead. She totally missed the daggers that had returned to Abbey's eyes when she looked at Jac.

Suddenly Candy's face lit up and her eyes opened wide, her fingers letting go of their purchase. "Of course!" She said and then to Abbey. "Did you bring the book with you?"

Abbey shrugged, put down the piece of fruit nodding and dug into her massive handbag that Candy was convienced held the secrets to the world. If archeologist wanted answers they were looking in the wrong place. They needed to search Abbey's purse and it wouldn't surprise her if they found the secrets to Atlantis.

Pulling out the book which was ripped and in shabby condition, Abbey handed it over. Candy rifled through it noticing that not much was left intact but the binding. The binding.

Placing her hand out to Jac, palm up she said,"Give me one of those knives you've got." And he did with a puzzled look. Taking the kife, Candy slit the binding on the book and was rewarded with a clink of metal falling to the table. Picking up a key that had not been there moments before, Candy held it and turned it slowly in the dim light for all to see.

It was definately a key. A key to a bank vault.

"Behind Huck Finn," Candy said with a triuphant smile.

 

[Zirconn]

Jac

Jac

Jac slapped himself on the forehead so hard that the sound reverberated throughout the room, startling everyone. How could he have been so stupid. There it was, the key cleverly sewn into the binding. The front and back cover were too obvious, and no doubt the indentation of a safety deposit box key would have shown clearly. In his nervous mind yesterday, he had forgotten to tear the bindings out, instead just concentrated on the front and back covers. The key was a normal looking one and it had the words National Bank on it. A few doors down, was the sign “National Bank of San Francisco”.

“How could I’ve missed that?… Ummm… Don’t answer that Candy…” he said with a full kiss on her lips, ignoring the still smoldering looks that he was getting from Abbey.

“Now what? Neither one of us can still walk around like nothing has happened. Perhaps it would be better if Abbey, escorted by Mike could help us out. It’ll look normal for Mike to take his daily earnings to deposit in a bank. Besides, the security cameras in the bank will spot us in an instant.”

Jac looked at Abbey and Mike in turn, with pleading eyes, despite the daggers inherent in those after the earth shaking revelation that he had been engaged to Candy. These two wonderful people had been such a great help up to this point that he felt guilty of asking them to do more. He felt so helpless in this matter. He could go into the bank himself, but the game would probably be up before he got two steps out the door. Candy could go as well, but she would probably get about the same amount of steps before the cops get her. It was still too risky for either one of them. That leaves Mike and Abbey. He had suggested that Mike go along, more to prevent the Bruiser Brothers from interfering rather than to look normal.

He had a nasty feeling that these two brothers were nearby, and were watching out for Candy and himself. And now add Abbey to the list, since they saw her coming out of Candy’s apartment. Now that he was getting somewhere by the stroke of brilliance from Candy, the stakes for survival were definitely higher. Candy had always been the smart one. Jac was so proud of her that his heart could burst. That was the Candy he remembered and knew. Coming through during the crucial moments of the game.

“Abbey and Mike. I would do this by myself. But I ask this favor from you two. Candy knows how difficult it is for me to ask for any favors. I don’t know either one of you very well. But I’m asking right now. Will you go to the bank and see if there is anything that will help to clear my name?”