

## FIRST STEP MURDER

### H. R. Whidden

Text copyright © 2014 H. R. Whidden

All Rights Reserved

### Table of Contents

PRELUDE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

PRELUDE

"I want that piece of property. We both have the same interest. Buying those expensive inner city properties, and then selling, a year or so later, has been a safe way to launder a lot of our money."

"Let me handle this Kasam, we're partners, you're in Saudi Arabia, I'm in Boston and there's plenty of properties, we'll go after those first. In the mean time I'll get someone to take care of Clayton Lewis, and then we'll get the property from his daughter. Don't worry I have men that can handle any problem that comes along Kasam. It may take time to do it right, but it'll be worth it. I have one of my men on the inside at Lewis Construction anyway. One way or another we'll have that property."

* * *

The addiction Jessie Walker brought back from Afghanistan during his tours as a marine had been his ruin. He walked along a side street in Boston where drugs and sex were sold nearly out in the open. He only had enough money to get a small amount of heroine, but that would be enough for right now. His dealer Slick Jimmy handed him the small folded packet in exchange for the cash in his hand. He wiped his nose with a dirty sleeve and before he could find a place to sit out of sight and shoot up, a large sedan stopped along the curb and the back door swung open.

"Get in Ensign Walker," the man said.

Jessie recognized that voice and like he'd done so many times before as a marine he jumped at his commanding officers order.

"Lieutenant Commander, how'd you know where to find me sir?"

"Never mind that Ensign Walker let's go see your wife. I found out she's living in public housing struggling to feed your daughters."

They drove to the run down city housing project, and the Lieutenant Commander followed Ensign Walker through the door and into the small two bedroom apartment. Jessie told his wife and daughters to go into the bedroom and shut the door.

"I've heard you're having a hard time adjusting to civilian life ensign. It's a shame your wife and young daughters suffer because of it.

"Why are you telling me this Sir? I'm a junkie, a broken man, there's nothing I can do about it."

He sat at the small table. His hand shook as he pulled out a needle and syringe, a small spoon, a short candle, and an elastic strap to wrap around his upper arm.

"That's where I come in Ensign Walker, I can help, I can make sure your wife gets a nice house and a car, and your kids go to a good school, I'll make sure their cared for ensign. I'll make sure you have your medication, you might say, until your mission here is over."

Jessie poured the packet of heroin into the spoon and held it over the small flame from the candle.

"So you give me your word, you'll take care of them? What's the mission sir?"

"I need someone to step up and take control of a situation. There's a man in my way, and unfortunately there's only one way to take care of him, and it has to look like an accident."

After a long talk the agreement was made, Jessie spoke to his wife away from the children.

"Linda, take the girls and go with the Lieutenant Commander, he's gonna take care of everything."

"And what about you Jessie," his wife asked?

"There hasn't been anything between you and me in a long time Linda. For once in my life I'm trying to do something for you and the girls. I can't live like this anymore."

* * *

The lieutenant commander took the ensign's wife and his two daughters to Philadelphia. They moved into a nice house not far from schools and given a cash allowance. After returning to Boston the lieutenant commander paid cash for an old used car for Ensign Walker.

The next night the lieutenant commander sat in his car at the corner of Kings Street and Goldsmith road in Littleton, a small town just west of Boston. He watched as the Mercedes S class sedan turned south on Goldsmith road.

* * *

Ensign Jessie Walker had injected himself with heroin. He sat in the old Impala, and took a long drink from the bottle of vodka in his right hand. Despite the heroin and half of the bottle consumed, he was still alert, nervous about what he was about to do. His mind remembered a time being pinned down by radical Islamist in northern Afghanistan. The small town was perfect for radicals to cross over the border from Islamabad Pakistan, not too far away. They produced plenty of young men and women willing to go kill Americans.

There were two bombed out buildings just on the edge of town and his platoon had been surrounded by overwhelming odds. Bullets chipped the stone around him and occasionally he'd shoot back hoping they wouldn't be overrun. When they came he remembered firing at robed men, everyone was shooting. Three marines were shot, one dead, and two seriously wounded. Jessie heard a woman's voice pleading for help just as the firefight had suddenly stopped. She walked toward them with her hands above her head. She was wearing a burka, crying she got closer, and then she ran forward through the half destroyed stone doorway. With marines standing there not knowing what to do. The woman shouted "Allah Akbar" and she exploded. As if in slow motion Ensign Walker watched the woman's head, arms and legs shoot off in different directions as her torso turned into a huge spray of red. Out of the twenty six marines that fought that day there were only twelve that lived, Ensign Jessie Walker was one of them. Situations and memories like that turned him to drugs and soon to his end. He took another long drink from the bottle of vodka and his prepaid cell phone rang.

* * *

The expensive black sedan had just turned south on Goldsmith Rd. Clayton Lewis looked at the man sitting in a car parked along the side of the road at the intersection. He thought it was strange this late at night and considered turning around and offering help. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw the headlights come on and the car pull onto the road. Clayton was relieved, he didn't want to turn around and play Good Samaritan he was anxious to be home.

"I wish I'd gone with Harper to the horse show today instead of a banquet listening to a bunch of hospital assholes," Clayton Lewis said to his wife.

"It's what we do Clayton, it's the biggest job for the company, except the Lewis Towers project. I'm glad you turned down that offer to purchase the last piece of downtown property from my grandparents."

"I don't care what they offer, nothing's going to stop me from building the Lewis Towers that'll be our families heritage, something to leave our daughter and her children."

* * *

"Go now Ensign," said the lieutenant commander, "don't disappoint your men or your commanding officer."

Jessie threw the phone on the floor, took another drink and dropped the bottle pushing the accelerator to the floor. His hands gripped the wheel at ten and two, his knuckles white. Fifty miles per hour, sixty, seventy, eighty miles per hour, he had a little over a mile to reach top speed yet. There was no one else on the road this late at night. He could see the headlights now, one hundred miles per hour, one ten, one twenty. The car shook, the ensign looked at the black car coming at him. Now, he swerved into the other lane.

When the two cars impacted they both burst into flames, a door from Jesse Walkers car flew through the air, smaller parts of both cars rained down on the road and shoulder. Secondary explosions went off from the cars gas tanks, fully engulfing both.

* * *

The first officer on the scene stopped near the two cars on the shoulder of the road. With his patrol car lights flashing he got out, opened his trunk, and took out a fire extinguisher, then ran to what was left of the black sedan. The flames were dying down but he emptied it inside the front of the car anyway. What was left of the two bodies was nothing but twisted, grotesque, blackened figures. The other car was worse and the officer could see what was left of a body. There were pieces of both vehicles everywhere. An ambulance and two more officers pulled up, it was the coroner later that took a wallet from the driver's back pocket barely able to see the name and address on the driver's license.

CHAPTER ONE

The cell phone that sat on the small bedside table rang for the third time. Rolling over and picking it up he answered, "Faxon Bennett Investigations."

"I was told you could help me Mr. Bennett, you came highly recommended by a satisfied customer I met at the club, my names Shira Brennon."

Her accent was thick, Russian or Slavic he thought.

"Before I agree Mrs. Brennon, I'm going to need to know what kind of help you need."

"I'd rather discuss it in person. It's an issue involving my husband."

"Do you know Ned Devine's Irish Pub?"

"I'm sorry, I don't, but I can have my driver find it."

"It's in the Quincy Market Building at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, there's a bar on the second floor I'll meet you there at 9:00."

"I'll be there Mr. Bennett."

Faxon had been Army Special Forces in Afghanistan. During his forth tour of duty a roadside IED, (improvised explosive device) exploded and killed two, it tore an arm and a leg off the solder next to him in their Humvee. With his tour at its end he left the service and moved back to Boston. He got his private investigators license and a permit to carry a gun and without much investment started his own business, Faxon Bennett Investigations.

He sat on the last stool at the bar drinking his favorite beer in a frosted glass. The owner of the pub let him stay in a small upstairs attic apartment. All Faxon had to do was bounce a drunk every now and then. The Special Forces training made him quite capable, he was twenty six years old, 6'2", 224lbs, and hard as a rock. He was handsome, the kind of man women turned to look at when he walked into a room.

William, Faxon's friend and bartender, saw her first and that made him turn to look. Tall and slender, long black hair, she was wearing an expensive designer black dress. She had high cheekbones and that eastern European look, Faxon nodded to her and she walked his way. She sat beside him and William asked what he could get for her.

"A cosmopolitan please," she said in a thick accent.

"If you don't mind me asking Mrs. Brennon, are you from Russia?"

"The Ukraine, Mr. Bennett, I met my husband, Mr. Brennon, at an arranged gathering in my home town of Luts'k. I must say Mr. Bennett you're much younger than I expected."

"I assure you I'm capable enough to handle a cheating husband. That is what we're talking about right?"

"So it's that obvious? Yes he's cheating on me. My lawyer says I must have definitive evidence to nail his ass to the wall. That means I need pictures of their faces, in the act, can you do that Mr. Bennett?"

"It shouldn't be a problem, but are you sure he's cheating on you?"

"Yes, yes, he says he has a late meeting every Wednesday, I talked to someone at the bank and there are no late meetings. A woman knows. I can smell her on him when he comes home."

Faxon took out a small half worn out pad from his back pocket and borrowed a pen from William.

"Ok, give me the details Mrs. Brennon."

"He's the head of a multi-country banking syndicate. He has an office in their building at 75 Federal St." She showed him an image of her husband on her cell phone. "We haven't talked about your fee Mr. Bennett."

"I'll get you what you need Mrs. Brennon but my fee is ten thousand."

"That's a lot more than you charged my friend at the club."

"Different circumstances Mrs. Brennon." Faxon couldn't help his crocked grin, dimple, and light blue eyes along with his unruly black hair.

Shira Brennon took a long drink from her cosmopolitan starring at Faxon. She set the drink down and removed her cell phone.

"I'll give you an electronic transfer for half, after you get me what I need I'll give you cash for the rest."

Shira handed Faxon her phone so he could enter his account information. After she finished her drink she covered his hand with hers on the bar, she leaned over and kissed his cheek and whispered.

"I think you're worth it."

Faxon watched the tall Ukrainian woman walk across the room to the stairs like a top runway model. When he turned back around William was still looking her way.

"Another beer William, it seems I'm gonna to be able to pay my bar tab tonight."

After about an hour, Faxon's enjoyment of his new, not yet earned wealth was interrupted by a man yelling at another man inside the bar.

"Ya know William you'd think a classy place like this wouldn't have so many drunks."

Faxon set his beer down on the bar and slowly got up and walked toward the yelling man. He noticed the guy was at least three hundred pounds, of fat, but drunk and angry he could be a problem. The fat guy was now accusing the smaller man, still sitting down, of trying to trip him on his way back from the bathroom. His two friends were just as drunk and laughing, and most of the room was watching.

"Hey chief, why don't you and your friends find another place to get drunk," Faxon said as he walked up.

"You can't be talking to me," the fat man said.

"You and your friends leave and no one will get hurt."

The fat guy swung a clumsy big left hand at Faxon. He ducked the swing, stepped closer and kicked him in the knee, the fat guy went down. His face was red he couldn't catch his breath from the pain. While he was lying on the floor holding his knee with both hands one of his friends stood up and Faxon hit him under the chin with a right fist. When his head snapped back Faxon grabbed a handful of his hair and slammed his head down on the table blooding his nose. When Faxon looked at the other guy he had his hands up.

"Ok buddy just let us get our friend out of here."

Faxon helped them get their fat friend down the stairs, his knee was ruined, the other guy held one of the restaurants cloth napkins over his bloody nose. When Faxon got back upstairs he finished his beer, William had just set another one on the bar in front of Faxon when a pretty blonde woman that they both knew sat down beside him.

"I'm warning you Ms. Lindsey," William said, "If you make a scene I'll call the police, you're not even supposed to be here."

"I won't make a scene William. I just want to talk to Faxon for a minute."

"That's what you said the last time."

"What do you want Amy," Faxon asked? "I would have thought you could have found someone else to stalk by now."

"I'm not drinking anymore. We had a good thing. I thought we could start over again."

"You're crazy, I slept with you once, and that was a huge mistake. There was nothing between us."

"Is it because I'm older than you? It's only a few years. I know you love me, and I wouldn't call what we did sleeping. I saw you with that other woman, she's older than I am, is she next?"

"She's a client, and I don't get intimate with clients, you taught me that. How long have you been watching me?"

"I know you haven't been with another woman since me. Come on let's go up to your room and release some of that pent up energy, that fight's probably has you all worked up."

"I told you a thousand times no. You're a crazy stalking bitch and if you don't leave I'll have William call the police."

"I'll pay you, how much do you want? It'll be the most enjoyable money you ever made."

"You don't have enough money, William I think you better make that call."

"Don't call the police William, I'll go, you have my cell number Faxon, call me I'll be waiting, and watching."

After several more beers and then a good night's sleep Faxon got up the next morning and went to the bank on Federal Street. He drove one of the cars that belonged to the restaurant owner. He had a vintage car collection that he kept in a private garage just across the street. He let Faxon borrow a car when he needed it, today he drove the 1946, army issue, Willis Jeep. After arriving at the bank and being escorted to an associate he opened an account and moved some of the money from his other bank. The helpful young woman took all his information smiling. He asked about the bank manager. She told him Mr. Brennon had been with them for ten years and was a respected executive of the company.

After leaving Faxon sat in the jeep parked along the curb and watched the front of the building. Sometime around noon he recognized Mac Brennon come out, he wore an expensive suit. Faxon got out and followed him down the block to a small restaurant. The banker ordered a corn beef sandwich and a beer, Faxon sat at a table in the back and ordered the same. After lunch he followed him back to the bank. Tonight was Wednesday, one his meeting nights, so Faxon went and got a workout in at the gym then a shower before coming back to the bank before 5:00 to follow him.

At 5:05 Mr. Brennon walked out of the bank and got into the back of a black sedan, Faxon followed in the jeep, the tag on the sedan indicated it was a private driver service. The car stopped in front of a condo high rise, 130 Bowdoin. While Mr. Brennon tipped the car service driver Faxon quickly found a place to park along the street. He got inside just in time to watch what floor the elevator stopped on. He followed up to the twelfth floor not yet knowing what room Mac Brennon went to. There were twenty condos on the floor. Faxon took out his surface microphone as he approached room 1201. He put the earwig in, adjusted the volume, and then placed the microphone against the door. After just a few moments of no sound he moved to the next door, 1202, he hoped to get lucky before he had to check every door on the floor. Then he heard a woman talking.

"I bought something I thought you might like," he heard her say. "I'll be right back, make your-self a drink."

After a few minutes she must have come back into the room.

"Well what do you think," she asked?

Faxon pictured a thirty-something hooker wearing a teddy. Just then he heard the elevator door open behind him and he quickly slipped the surface microphone in his front pocket as he leaned against the door jamb and acted drunk.

"Don't understand why damn key won't work," he slurred.

"Are you sure that's your condo sir," asked a cute petite girl with a pretty smile and blue eyes.

"1201, I've owned this condo ever since my father died," he said, still acting drunk.

"That's right next door sweetie."

"Oh, thank you," he said.

Faxon stumbled back to 1201 and heard her knock and in a moment the door opened.

"Damn girl look at you, that's sexy, have you already started without me," he heard the petite girl ask?

"I had to keep him occupied until you got here, he's anxious."

After she went in and the door closed he moved back to 1202 and placed the surface microphone against the door again. They made small talk and had a couple more drinks, the girls giggled between short periods of quiet then he heard the first girl suggest they go into the bedroom. Faxon didn't hear much more for a few minutes, and then he heard a low moan. He hadn't planned on this being the moment to get what he needed. Most of the time he'd follow the guy for a few days and make sure he had the right opportunity, but it wasn't going to get any better than this. Faxon put away the surface microphone and took out his lock pic set. He slipped inside and left the door open just a little for a quick get-a-way. He took out a digital camera and walked toward the open bedroom doorway where the moaning was coming from.

Faxon peeked around the doorjamb, and Mr. Brennon was definitely cheating on his wife, with high priced hookers. He stepped into the room and clicked off a few images before the three of them turned to look at a stranger standing in the bedroom. It was several more images before Mac Brennon managed to get up cussing and threating. The fat naked banker tried to grab the camera and Faxon kneed him in the crotch and he went down groaning. The two pretty young girls smiled then laughed as he made his way out.

* * *

The next day he waited until nearly noon to call Shira Brennon.

"You could have called earlier Faxon, Mr. Brennon didn't come home last night and I got a call from his lawyer first thing this morning. He's offering a very generous settlement. I assume everything went as planned," she said, in her Ukrainian accent.

"It did, Mr. Brennon tried to take the camera from me. I had to knee him in the crotch. I don't think he was able to pleasure anyone after that."

Shira laughed. "Bravo Faxon, bring me those images, I have the rest of your fee. I live at the Devonshire, unit 2, 1 Devonshire Place."

"I know the building Mrs. Brennon, I'm on my way."

"Please Faxon darling you must call me Shira."

At the building there was an entry area with a desk and a doorman. The on duty receptionist asked his name and checked the list and then he was allowed to go on. After just two knocks on her condo door she answered. Shira wore a loose black robe with a tie at the waist. After kissing his cheek she invited him in. He followed her swaying stride into the kitchen.

"Can I get you a cup of tea Faxon, or maybe a coffee? I always have tea, I never got used to drinking coffee like you Americans."

"I'll have coffee please."

She had one of those single cup makers and in no time served him a cup, black, strong, just the way he liked it. Shira left the room and when she came back she set her laptop down on the counter in front of Faxon, and a small bundle of one hundred dollar bills. Faxon plugged the flash drive in and moved the laptop over to her. He sipped his coffee while she viewed the images without emotion.

"They were pretty girls, yes?"

"Ya, sure," Faxon said, "they're pretty, and expensive."

"Do you think there's something wrong with me?"

"No, you're a very attractive lady. I think it's hard to find that special person though."

"I never refused him, anything," she said, "I think you may be right, sometimes sex is just sex, not love."

* * *

It was Friday night at Ned Devine's the dark polished wood paneling had come from Ireland, accented by brass fixtures. The Clancy Brothers played, all the waitresses wore dark red shirts tied in a knot above the waist with short red and black plaid skirts. Faxon sat at his usual spot at the end of the bar.

"Amy Lindsey is sitting in a booth, she's alone," William said.

"I really don't feel like an argument with her tonight."

A pretty, tall, sandy blonde sat beside Faxon, and after William asked what he could get her she said, "A shot of Tequila."

Faxon thought she looked familiar. Then he checked to make sure the stalker bitch wasn't coming over to make a scene.

"You don't remember me? My names Barbie," she said as she turned the shot glass around in a circle on the bar and smiled.

"I'd remember if we ever when out."

Barbie laughed. "No we never went out, although you've been to my place and seen me naked. You might say you broke in."

She picked up the shot glass of tequila and drank it down. Faxon wasn't smiling anymore.

"How'd you find me?"

"Now don't get your-self all worked up, it'll ruin the mood. Mrs. Brennon, Shira wanted to meet me. I guess she wanted to know what got her husband to cheat on her. She gave me your name and told me where I might be able to meet you. You're kinda good looking, I thought since you saw me naked you could return the gesture. You did break into my condo. I could have called the police. Come on, let's have some fun, you show me yours and I'll show you mine, no charge."

"You wouldn't have dared call the police and bring that kind of attention to your business, and no thanks, I'm fine."

Barbie drank down her second shot of tequila.

"Well I have to say I'm a little disappointed, but if you change your mind you know where to find me."

She walked away and Faxon didn't turn to watch, but William did.

"I can't believe you turned her down, she was beautiful."

"Let's just say she's not my kind of girl," Faxon said. "When I find the right one I'll know it, and so will everyone else."

CHAPTER TWO

Harper Lewis, the only child of Clayton and Lindsey Lewis, twenty four years old, six foot tall with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She's what most people would call a tomboy. Easily pretty enough to be a super model getting her looks from her mother, but everything else from her father. She had spent the day at the MHC (Massachusetts Horseman's Council) Finals in Northampton MA one of the biggest jumper events of the year. Even without her parents cheering she had done well with her fearless horse Neck Rider. She pulled the three quarter ton king cab pickup and trailer beside the stables. The three axel horse trailer could hold four horses, and in front was a comfortable mobile home complete with refrigerator and kitchen, a table with booth seating, and a large bed above the fifth wheel, it was air conditioned and had satellite television. It was top of the line.

Jose, her stable manager had been her only support today, her mother and father had gone to a banquet at Massachusetts General Hospital. It was to honor Lewis Construction for their charitable contribution to the new children's care unit. Clayton's construction company had been awarded a contract for a new wing that would be built over the next couple of years.

"I'll take care of the horses Ms. Harper, I know you're tired," Jose' said.

"Thanks for helping me out today Jose', I'll see you tomorrow."

Harper entered the house through the kitchen side door, it was the one they used on a daily basis, the large front double doors were for company. She went to her upstairs room, stripped off her clothes and took a long hot shower, reliving the excitement of the day's course. After she went downstairs and made a ham sandwich with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese on whole wheat bread with mayo and ate chips from a large bag as she watched the news. Then she went upstairs and fell asleep exhausted.

* * *

In the early morning hours she rolled over onto her back, something had woken her. She looked at the clock and it was 4:00 am. The chimes of the doorbell sounded apparently again and then there was loud knocking. She slipped on a pair of grey sweat pants and a blue hoodie then down the hall barefoot. She wondered why her father hadn't woke first as she went down the stairs to the front door. Harper looked out one of the small narrow windows that were on either side and saw two Littleton Police cars in the driveway, two uniform officers and one person wearing a suit.

Harper opened the door. "How can I help you officers?"

"Ms. Lewis, I'm Jerry Matson, I'm the personal relations officer with the Littleton Police Department, I'm afraid we have some bad news. I don't know how else to say it, your parents were in a head on car crash early this morning around 1:00 am up on Goldsmith road not too far south of Kings Street. They were both killed."

Harper was stunned. She just starred at the man. She could see his mouth still moving but she couldn't hear what he was saying.

"It was a high speed crash. The nearest we can tell your parents were on their way home when a car coming the other direction at extremely high speed crossed the center line and hit them head on, both vehicles were destroyed.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Her knees buckled and if not for the two officers she would have fallen down on the floor just inside the door.

"Come on guys let's get the young lady to a chair."

They helped her to one of the large leather chairs in the living room, more carrying than Harper walking. Jerry went to the kitchen and got a small bottle of water out of the fridge and went back to where she was sitting. He handed her the water and sat on a stool in front of her.

It was several moments before Jerry Matson spoke to her.

"Is there anyone I can call for you Ms. Lewis?"

"The only family I have now is my father's younger sister, she lives in Atlanta. I haven't spoken to her since I graduated high school. We weren't that close."

"I'll be glad to call her for you, I'm sure she'd like to know about her brother."

"In the office, top right drawer there's an address book, her name is, Rachel Evans. I'll need to call my father's minority partner in business Richard Mathis, and the company's general manager, Sam Shepard."

"I'll stay here for a while and be glad to answer any questions as you think of them, and I'm still getting updates on the investigation. I know it's a shock Ms. Lewis I can make those calls and explain until someone comes, you're understandably still shaken. If you need to go to the hospital I'd be glad to take you."

"No thank you. My father would be very disappointed he would have wanted me to have more self-control. He was a tough guy. I'm sorry but could you tell me what happened again, I think I must have missed most of it."

Jerry repeated the story again slowly, Harper cried but wasn't hysterical.

"I want to go down there."

"It's probably all cleaned up by now Harper, besides you don't want to see it, believe me. Just remember them the way they were."

* * *

"Good morning. Can I speak to Richard Mathis?" He called the Lewis Construction office. "You can tell him I'm Jerry Matson, personal relations officer with the Littleton Police Department."

There was quiet on the line, and then a man answered, "Richard Mathis here."

"Good morning Mr. Mathis. I'm calling in behalf of Harper Lewis. Her parents were both killed in a car accident early this morning."

"Oh my God, tell Harper I'm on my way."

* * *

"Good morning Mr. Shepard, the office said I could reach you on your cell phone. I'm Jerry Matson with the Littleton Police Department and I'm calling you on behalf of Harper Lewis. Both her Parents were killed in a car accident at 1:00 am this morning."

* * *

"Miss Evans my name is Jerry Matson. I'm the personal relations officer with the Littleton Police Department. I'm calling on behalf of Harper Lewis from your brother's home. He and his wife were killed in a car accident in the early morning hours."

"Oh shit," there was quiet on the line for a moment, "tell Harper I'll drive straight there right now," her voice shook.

* * *

Jose was the first one there. He had come up from his apartment at the stables as soon as he saw the police cars in front of the house. Richard Mathis arrived in his expensive sedan. Sam Shepard pulled up right behind him in his one ton pickup with the company name on both sides. Jose sat in the living room with Harper she looked out the back through the French doors still holding the small bottle of water. Richard and Sam stood out front with Jerry Matson, the personal relations officer. He had met them when they pulled up not wanting to go through the story again in front of Harper. He explained the accident.

"I got a call a few minutes before you gentlemen pulled up," Jerry Matson said. "The accident investigators estimate the other car was going in excess of one hundred miles an hour at the time of the collision. They also found an empty bottle of vodka on the front floor of the car. It appears it was an out-of-control drunk driver."

Sam Shepard, Lewis Constructions general manager, had been with the company since Clayton Lewis started his business. He was older and had been working for another big company as their site developer, but hadn't been paid for his experience. Clayton Lewis said he could always tell a good man when he saw one and hired Sam as his General Manager.

Richard Mathis, thirty four years old, was the son of Clayton's superior officer in the Marines. Richard had spent four years in the navy and when he got out he earned an engineering degree from Boston College. Richard's father had convinced Clayton into selling twenty percent of the Company to Richard, which his father funded, convincing Clayton he could spend more time with the family and as a result, Richard took over all the blueprints and engineering of their projects. Clayton spent his time doing what he liked most, getting contracts, and wining and dining the who's who of the Boston area.

They both walked into the living room after talking to Jerry Matson. Harper dropped the bottle of water on the floor when she stood not even realizing it was still in her hand. She threw her-self into the big arms of the tall general manager. He had salt and pepper hair, tall, handsome, and still in good shape for a man of sixty two.

"They're gone Sam," Harper cried, again hugging his neck tight.

"It's ok girl let it out, have yourself a good cry and then be done with it. That's what that hard ass father of yours would've said."

"He thought a lot of you Sam," Harper snubbed.

Richard stepped up but their hug was brief.

"If there's anything I can do Harper, I can stay until you feel better about being here by yourself if you want?"

"Jose' has already offered to stay here at the house till my Aunt Rachel gets here from Atlanta."

"Can I help with any of the funeral arrangements," Richard asked?

"No, I want to do that myself. I'll call the newspapers in the morning, that'll give me time to sit down tonight and write something of an obituary.

"Well don't worry about the company, I'll take care of everything," Richard said, "your father's schedule book is at the office, I'll make sure I keep all of his appointments."

"Thank you Richard," Harper said.

Soon the driveway was filling up with Lewis Construction office employee cars and trucks by the dozens. Everyone had a lot of respect for the tough guy that was the owner of the Company. In truth he had helped most of them, from sponsoring kids ball teams to the Christmas party and the generous bonus he gave every year. By the time everyone left Harper was exhausted, but still took a sleeping pill.

The next morning Jose' answered the door and let in Rachel Evans, Clayton's younger sister. She had driven straight there and went to the kitchen and sat at the bar drinking coffee while Jose made scrambled eggs and bacon. Harper woke around 10:00 am when the smell of food woke her. She sat on the edge of the bed still a little groggy from the sleeping pill. She didn't like taking them but didn't want to take the chance of waking during the night, afraid that she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, her head full of thoughts from the previous day. She brushed her hair, put on a pair of old blue jeans and a t-shirt and without shoes or makeup went downstairs.

"Something smells good Jose! Well, I see you drove straight through Aunt Rachel."

She got up and hugged Harpers neck, "you look terrible." Tears ran down her cheeks.

"Thanks, please don't cry you'll get me started again. Father would have called us something, vulgar with crybabies at the end."

"Sit down I'll get you a cup of coffee, what's this," Rachel asked, looking at a legal pad on the island top where they sat.

"Their obituary, I'm going to fax it to the Herald and the Globe this morning."

Rachel read it, and then put it back down on the counter, "it'll take up half a damn page."

"Good, that's what I was shooting for. I'm sure we'll be flooded with phone calls and visitors today, word spreads fast." Harper finished her breakfast, "I'm going up to put on some makeup and dress, you can pick out a room for yourself Aunt Rachel."

* * *

Four days later the funeral was held at Park Street Church near Beacon Hill, and Boston Common. There was standing room only. The Boston Police Department was there in force along with Veteran's groups, politicians, and hundreds of others. The area around the church was shut down for the day because of the traffic. After the ceremony the motor cade drove to Forest Hills Cemetery for the grave side service complete with a twenty one gun salute. There seem to be no end to the people that came up to Harper to give their condolences. The whole time Richard Mathis stayed close.

The day after the funeral, neighbors and friends stopped by and brought food and everyone asked what they could do. Harper and Rachel were polite but the unscheduled visitors and food that got thrown away was getting old fast. Jose' was staying back at his small apartment at the stables and had closed and locked the gates. It was his idea to discourage people from just dropping in. Harper and her Aunt sat on stools around the tall island in the kitchen eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and macaroni with cheese from the local Littleton franchise.

"So, are you going to stay," Harper asked? "Quit that fucking teaching job and we can have the rest of your stuff shipped, you said you didn't have anyone keeping you there. Come on old lady I need you, believe it or not I'm getting use to you and that sunny disposition of yours, you're just like dad."

"Me, you sound just like him, and I'm eight years younger than your father. I wouldn't call forty an old lady, and what am I going to do here, get another job teaching runny nosed brats?"

"You don't have to do anything you can be my personal assistant. I can write it all off as a business expense. I'll even buy you a car, come on Rachel I want you to stay."

"You know Harper I wish we'd been closer over the years. Hell I wish I'd been closer to Clayton we never even called each other on our birthdays. If it hadn't been for your mom we probably would have never talked to each other. I guess we just weren't raised that way, but I want to make up for that now, so as long as you need me I'll be here for you."

The two women hugged.

"I love you Aunt Rachel."

* * *

A couple months later, Harper rode her motorcycle down to the stables. She parked just outside the breezeway and saw Jose' raking out a stall at the far end.

"You know when the horses hear you ride up on that thing they get excited, they think they're going for a ride. You haven't been down here in a long time, I swear I think they miss you, so have you come to work them out," Jose' asked?"

"I don't know Jose'. I was thinking about quitting, I'm just not as excited about competing without dad there anymore."

The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the front gates got them both wondering who it was, there were only a few people that had the entry code, but as soon as Harper saw the black truck she knew it was her trainer, Walter Keys.

"I didn't get to talk to you after the funeral Harper. How you doing Jose," Walter asked?

"Trying to talk Harper into working these horses out, they think she's given up Walter."

"I really liked your mom and dad Harper, if I didn't I would have never agreed to be your trainer. I just can't imagine that he'd want you to give up competing. I think he'd kick your ass for even thinking about it. Listen, I came out here today because The New England Equitation Championship in Springfield is next week. You and Neck Rider are already qualified. I want the three of us to go and take first place. I think it'd be good for you. Think of it as a tribute to your mom and dad."

Harper spent the rest of that morning and the early afternoon working with Neck Rider, and some of the other horses. Jose set up the jumps and before Walter left she had renewed her interest. As soon as the trainer left, Jose put Neck Rider on the hot walker. Harper got a call on her cell phone from Aunt Rachel at the house. There was someone wanting entry, she rode the motorcycle to the gate and saw Richard Mathis, her father's minority partner. He sat in his expensive sedan and after she punched in the code to open the gate she took off on one wheel for about fifty feet before the front touched the ground. Under the carport at the house Harper waited for Richard to park.

"What brought you out here Richard?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something. So you've been riding?"

"Yea, there's a big meet next week, I'm already qualified so I thought it'd take my mind off, well other things."

"I'm glad you said that. Let me take you and your aunt out to dinner tonight."

"You're too dressed up. We might go, if you take off the jacket and tie, maybe roll up your sleeves. There's a steak house over on Great Road, it's no big deal but they serve a good steak."

Harper took a shower and changed into a pair of jeans and a button up shirt with a collar. She pulled her straight, long, blonde hair back into a high pony tail and wore her best boots. Rachel wore a conservative dress and sandals. She flirted with Richard, he was only six years younger but before the evening was over it was obvious to Rachel he was attracted to Harper.

They sat at their table in the restaurant having coffee, after their steaks, Harper had a piece of apple pie.

"I want you to come with me to a business dinner Harper. I have a meeting with Dan Harland, your father and him were business associates and friends. He has a small piece of property just outside the city limits, and he wants to build a mini mall, twelve units. He already has lease commitments for half of them, and I need your help to sell him on us doing the job. He's talking to two other development companies, other associates of Harland's hoping to get his work since your father died. I think meeting you would convince him to stick with us."

"I'm kind of busy Richard, with the horses and competing."

"You're the principal owner of the company now Harper. I don't think I can get the job without you being there. Come on one look at you and he'll be eating out of your hand."

* * *

The next day Harper was at the stables early and worked out all the horses, she put Neck Rider through his paces as her trainer, Walter Keys, looked on smiling.

"Did you see him Walter," Harper said as she slid off the excited horse, "He cleared all the fences by at least a foot."

"Very impressive, he looked like he was flying over that rail fence and water feature. I've never seen you so focused. Just remember don't rush him, he'll feed off your excitement so be calm and confident."

Harper had to hurry after her workout with the horses to shower, put on makeup, and dress. Richard waited downstairs talking to Rachel, he declined a mixed drink. The look on his face said it all when Harper came down the stairs, her long blonde hair hung loose around her bare shoulders. She wore a semi-short black dress with black spike heels that only made her legs look longer. The low cut front showed plenty of cleavage and the small spaghetti straps went over her shoulders and crossed over her bare back. With heels Harper was about the same height as Richard.

"Wow, very impressive, you're beautiful" Richard said. He wore an expensive black Italian suit, shoes, and sported a short military style haircut.

"Damn Harper I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress," Rachel said. She ran to get her smart phone and made them both stand together for a picture. Rachel had to get Harper to stand a little closer and put her arm through his.

On the drive into the city she spoke with excitement about the coming event and how well Neck Rider was doing.

"So you didn't tell me, where we're going," she asked?

"I made reservations at Bistro du Midi, I hope you like French food. It's probably too nice a place to meet Dan Harland just to get a mini-mall contract but I wanted to impress you."

Harper let the comment slide by, "I know the restaurant it's across from the Public Garden, down the street from Chinatown. I've always wanted to go there. French food, all that butter and cream sauce, what's not to like."

They valet parked in front of the restaurant, the attendants and every male inside the plush waiting area starred at the tall beautiful blonde. Dan Harland and his wife immediately approached the stunning couple and introductions were made.

"Ms. Lewis it's nice to meet you, and I offer my condolences," said Mr. Harland, "we're really going to miss your father, he was a good friend."

"Well I can insult you a couple of times and call you some crude names in front of your wife if it'd make you feel better," Harper said.

Mr. Harland laughed, "You are your father's daughter. He was a respected and honorable man without question despite his colorful language. Richard, I've already made up my mind, I wouldn't trust anyone else so let's enjoy ourselves without talking business tonight."

Dan's wife was several years younger than he was, and was severely lacking in IQ. It was obvious he hadn't married her for her ability to carry a conversation. On the way home Richard had all but convinced Harper to come with him again in a few days, he had to meet with the CEO of a major grocery store chain for an opportunity to site develop and build three stores.

Through the front black iron gates Richard drove up under the covered area next to Harper's truck and Aunt Rachel's new Audi. He quickly got out meaning to open the door for her but she beat him to it.

"You were going to open the door for me? You've gotta be kidding, I'm not that type of girl Richard, I'm very low maintenance, independent."

"I had a great time tonight Harper."

"Me too Richard," he stood close to her at the side door, "well, are you going to kiss me or what," she asked?

Richard smiled, he put his hands on her hips and leaned forward just a little nervous. As soon as their lips touched Harper put her left arm around his waist and her right hand on the back of his neck and kissed him hard, then let go just as fast.

"Goodnight Richard." Harper walked into the kitchen and locked the door behind her. She left him standing just outside smiling and wondering what had just happened.

CHAPTER THREE

"Mr. Samuels, your 2:00 o-clock appointment is here," his secretary said. Rayna had been his personal assistant for fifteen years.

"Thank you Rayna send Mr. Molina in please."

Mr. Molina came in and after shaking hands sat in front of the desk.

"Mr. Samuels it's an honor to meet you, thank you for agreeing to hear my proposal."

Mr. Molina took out a folder from his briefcase.

"I represent an offshore investment group and we'd like to make you an offer on the property you own at Well Street and Broad. I think you'll find it very hard to turn down. I've personally checked what other similar properties have sold for not only in Boston but also in New York City and this offer Mr. Samuels is ten times those purchases."

"Mr. Molina I agreed to see you today not to entertain your offer for the property, but to explain why no amount of money would be enough. The Samuels family goes back to before the tea party here in Boston. That piece of property is some of the last left to be developed."

Mr. Samuels got up and walked over to another table in the large office and unrolled a set of blue prints. Mr. Molina joined him in front of the table.

"You see Mr. Molina this is my family's legacy here in Boston, I'm going to call it the Samuels center. An office building and civic center for the performing arts, the top two floors will be private use, one floor will be the new offices for the Samuels Erecting and Heavy Equipment Company. The other a personal residence, you see I have all the money I need. This will be my legacy to my descendants that follow, just as other influential founding families have done here in Boston.

"Well thank you Mr. Samuels for seeing me, and I'll explain what you've told me to the investment group. I wish you all the luck on your center's development sir."

The commercial real-estate attorney, Manuel Molina, left the building and called the phone number he'd been given to contact his employer. He'd been paid a lot of money to make the presentation and he didn't even know who was behind the group of investors, or the man he was calling.

"I'm sorry sir, but Mr. Samuels will not sell to anyone for any amount of money, I can assure you of that."

Manuel Molina explained the story and described the blue prints and vision of Martin Samuels to the man that had hired him.

"Mr. Molina, you'll have the opportunity to make the offer again, you'll be hearing from me soon."

* * *

"Cartwright Arms, how can I help you?"

Ex-Navy Seal Ronald Beale worked for a large gun shop and dealer in Tennessee, custom builds, repairs, and sales, he was the most experienced man in the shop.

"I'd like to speak to Ron Beale," said the deep voice on the phone.

"This is Ron what can I do for you?"

"You can step up and help your commanding officer. This is your Lieutenant Commander Ensign Beale."

The line was quiet for a moment.

"How'd you know where to find me sir?"

"I know where all my boys are, and what they're doing Ensign."

"If you're calling about Ensign Walker I already know he's dead. Do you know anything about that sir? Anything about the circumstances of his death sir, they said it was a head on car crash."

"Ensign Walker came to me for help, he was a drug addict and an alcoholic, his wife and two daughters were living in public housing starving to death and victims of local gang members. He took the lead in an operation for me, and now his wife and daughters are living in a nice house in the suburbs with a nice car, and I'm taking care of them. And now I have a problem that requires a special person with certain skills Ensign Beale."

"My specialty was stealth entry and termination sir."

"I'm well aware Ensign. I need a man to assist in another operation. I need someone to take the first step soldier. There's someone trying to harm your commanding officer Ensign Beale. I've chosen you to take point on this and eliminate the threat, and it needs to look like suicide."

"Where, and what's the man's name sir."

"Boston, the man's name is Martin Samuels. He's the CEO of Samuel's Erecting and Heavy Equipment Company."

"I'll take the lead sir, text me the information, leave everything to me."

* * *

Three days later Ronald Beale sat in his pickup truck down the road from the office of Samuel's company's building. Martin Samuels was sixty five years old, his wife had died three years ago from cancer and he had never remarried. He had two sons that worked with him in the business both of them had tried to convince their father to sell the remaining piece of family property in the city and retire.

Ron followed him to a condo building down by the river he watched the car pull into an underground garage. He drove past and parked his truck in a parking lot down the road and waited until dark. Then he walked to the condo building and took the face plate off the entry key pad to the garage. He worked the interior electronics until the gate opened. He put the face plate back on and looked in the garage until he found the car, the number on the parking space corresponded with the unit on the tenth floor of the twenty story building.

Ron rode the garage elevator up to the tenth floor. He took off his boots and jammed one of them into the slide to hold the door open and keep the elevator on that floor. He found the right number on the door and picked the lock. Ron hit the sleeping older man in the head, and carried Martin Samuels back to the elevator then up to the roof. With the man's unconscious body over his shoulder he walked to the edge of the building and eased him over.

* * *

In the early morning hours barricades were set up around the covered body of Martin Samuels lying on the sidewalk. There were three patrol cars with their lights flashing and two officers kept the occasional car moving along. Detective John Walker pulled up in his unmarked Crown Vic and approached one of the deputies near the body.

"What do you think officer?"

"Looks like suicide, no ID on the corpse, he must have come off the roof. No windows open that I can see from here."

Detective Walker lifted the sheet that covered the body. He looked around for any bystanders that might be able to identify the deceased. An older man walked up with a small dog on a leash.

"Excuse me sir do you live in the building," the detective asked?

"I do, Jasper always wakes me up early to go out, you'd think the damn dog has an alarm clock, 6:00 am and he starts barking. Do you think that's someone from our building?"

"It looks like it sir, I don't suppose you'd take a look, you know see if you recognize him? I'm sure his family would be grateful."

"I don't know. I don't have a very strong stomach."

"I'll just uncover his face, he fell on his back. It's just a little misshapen is all sir."

The man held the little dog tight and followed the detective over to the covered corpse. He knelt down and uncovered the head and when he looked up at the man with the dog he heard him gasp.

"Oh my God, that's Martin Samuels," he turned away and the detective wrote the name down on his pad then followed the man and his dog away from the corps.

"Can you give me any information on Mr. Samuels's sir, what floor did he live on, maybe a unit number. Did he own a car, what was his occupation?"

"Yeah, yeah, God it's so disturbing, do you think he jumped? Suicide, shit I can't believe it, Martin lived on my floor, tenth floor, unit 22. I just saw him yesterday. He was on his way to work. His family goes way back here in Boston he owns an equipment company or something."

"What about family?"

"I know he has two sons, but I don't know their names, his wife died from cancer, such a sweet lady, but that was several years ago."

"And does he have a car in the garage?"

"Yeah, a black sedan, spot 1022," the man said.

"Well thanks for your help sir. We'll notify his family right away."

The detective called in his report about the deceased. The police public relations office would be responsible for notifying the family. Detective Walker went to the parking garage and the building maintenance man let him in. He couldn't tell if anyone had tampered with the entry system.

"You say no one could have gotten in here any other way?"

"That's right, and it doesn't appear there were any unauthorized entries."

The detective walked to parking spot 1022 and the black sedan was in its place.

"Ok, I want to go up to his condo now." They rode the parking garage elevator up to the tenth floor and the maintenance man unlocked the door. "Who locks their door before they go jump off the roof," the Detective thought.

He looked around the condo, nothing was out of place, Mr. Samuels's wallet and keys were on a small table just inside the door. The remains of a frozen dinner were in the trash with an empty beer bottle on top. In the bedroom there was no blood and no sign of a struggle the covers were pushed over like he had just gotten up and walked out.

"Let's go up to the roof."

Besides the large AC units and a couple satellite dishes there was nothing up there. John walked over to the edge where Mr. Samuels most likely would've gone over. There were no scuff marks on the roof or sign of a struggle. Detective Walker looked over at the scene below, there were several more cars parked along the street now and they weren't patrol cars. One was the Coroner's van.

"Ok, I've seen enough."

Out through the garage and down the sidewalk he saw someone he knew.

"Hey, John, what's the word, how about a quote for the Herald," asked James Cullen, the crime reporter for the Boston Herald.

"You'll have to wait for the press spokesman James, just like always."

Everyone walked away except James. He waited at the barricade as Detective Walker was going to his car.

"Do you know who Martin Samuels was John? Some of the officers said it was suicide. I don't care what it looks like John, there's no way Martin Samuels committed suicide."

The Detective turned back around and walked over to James.

"I tell ya James, I couldn't find anything that would lead me to believe that it was anything else but suicide. Don't quote me or I'll never talk to you again. There was no struggle in the room, no drag marks, nothing under his fingernails, I've been doing this a long time James, so tell me, what is it you know, and I don't?"

"John, word is he's turned down at least a dozen offers to sell a family piece of property on Wall Street and Broad. He even fought with his sons publicly over the deal. Mr. Samuels had blue prints to build this huge project even a center for the performing arts, there's no way he would have killed himself."

John shook his head, "well don't be surprised James when it's reported as a suicide, I'll check everybody's alibies, but other than that it's over."

The next morning after James Cullen had talked to several friends and family of Mr. Samuels his article was a tribute to the man and didn't specify whether his death was suicide or not. No one would say the M word but everyone was unanimous that he showed no depression or public signs of suicide.

James had met Faxon Bennett one night at Ned Devine's. They'd had gotten drunk together drinking beer and Irish whiskey.

The cell phone rang and Faxon rolled over and picked it up,

"Faxon Bennett Investigations, how can I help you?" He said in a gravelly voice.

"Damn Faxon you just waking up, don't tell me you were drinking beer and Irish whisky last night?"

"James Cullen, Boston Herald crime reporter, no just overslept, and I haven't chased any of the Irish with beer again and I don't plan to, how the hell are ya James?"

"Good Faxon, but I have a client for you."

"You're as good as an investigator as I am James. What you need me for?"

"Have you heard about Martin Samuels?"

"On the news," Faxon said, "patriarch of an old Boston family, owns an equipment company, big man around town, everybody was shocked when he took a dive off that condo."

"My editor wants me to drop the story and move on. Detective John Walker is a friend of mine and he told me there's nothing that would suggest it was anything else but a suicide. But that little voice inside my head says something's wrong. I don't believe it, someone threw Mr. Samuels off that roof, and they did a hell of a good job making it look like suicide."

"So you want me to see what I can dig up? Who's my client," Faxon asked?

"Sara Johnson, she's Martin Samuels's sister, her husband is a lawyer, Benjamin Johnson LLC, and he wants her to drop it so you'll have to meet with her when he's not around, but she asked if I knew someone that would check it out."

"Ya, sure, give me her number and I'll go talk to her."

"It goes without saying if you dig something up Faxon you'll give me the story, you know for the referral and all."

"Of course, we're friends. I don't get shitfaced with people I don't like Cullen."

* * *

"Good afternoon Mrs. Johnson my names Faxon Bennett, James Cullen gave me your number, he thought I might be able to help you."

"Oh thank God you called I just need some peace of mind really. That and I don't believe my brother committed suicide.

"Well I'd like to come and talk to you in person Mrs. Johnson, and there's the fee, I usually work with cash or a check advance."

"That's fine, if you'll just check the facts I'll feel better knowing someone without something to gain from Martin's death looked into it."

Faxon got the address, and the owner of the bar loaned him one of his cars, Faxon drove the 1946 Willis Jeep again. It was an old Army issue restored, painted Army green. It had a four cylinder engine, three speed stick, with another short shifter next to it that engaged the four wheel drive. The windshield would even fold forward onto the hood. The top was green canvas with matching doors.

Mrs. Johnson lived in a gated community just outside of town and Faxon punched in the access number she'd given him and the gate opened. He rang the doorbell and soon Sara Johnson opened the door. They sat in the living room, Faxon turned down her offer of tea. She gave him a list of family and friends, and he asked for the name of Mr. Samuels's secretary, and another executive in the office. Faxon asked about who had made offers on the property but she said the secretary would have that information.

Sara Johnson wrote a check from a personal account for five thousand dollars, they agreed on a thousand dollars a day and he would be back in five days to give a report and they'd decide where to go from there. Faxon left and drove straight to the main office, he asked the receptionist if he could speak to Rayna Wilson, Martin Samuel's personal secretary. She picked up the phone.

"Ms. Wilson a Faxon Bennett is here to see you, yes ma'am. She said she'd be right here."

Faxon stood beside the front counter, and he turned when he heard high heeled footsteps coming down the hall. Rayna Wilson was a woman in her mid-forty's dressed in a women's business suit.

"What can I help you with Mr. Bennett? We're not giving interviews about Mr. Samuels."

"I'm not a reporter but I would like to talk to you about Mr. Samuels Death."

"If you're not a reporter or a detective who are you Mr. Bennett," Rayna asked?

"I'm a private investigator. Let's just say not everybody believes Mr. Samuels death was suicide, and someone has asked me to look into the circumstances."

Rayna looked around to see if anyone had heard what he had said, "let's talk in my office Mr. Bennett."

Down the hall to the first office on the right, Rayna closed the door behind them. She sat behind her desk that was cleared of any paperwork, Faxon sat in a chair in front of her.

"Who hired you Mr. Bennett?"

"I'm afraid I can't divulge that information, my client doesn't want their identity known, but I can tell you they don't believe Mr. Samuels committed suicide."

"And I don't either, Mr. Bennett, I was Mr. Samuels private secretary for fifteen years, I knew the man better than anyone. There's no way Martin jumped off that roof."

Faxon wrote in a small hand sized notebook that he took out of his pocket.

"The obvious question Mrs. Wilson did you know anyone that would want him dead? Had he had a disagreement with someone or had he been threatened?

"Everyone loved Martin. His sons disagreed with him constantly about the way he ran the company. They wanted him to retire."

"Do you think either of them could have done this?"

"I'm afraid not. They both wanted control of the company, but they both were at the ballroom at the Marriot, it was a birthday celebration for our general manager. I was there along with practically all the company. Martin had gone home right after work he had just had a huge argument with both his sons about turning down a generous offer two days earlier. It was over a large parcel of property Martin owned. The party went on till the early morning hours so I can personally alibi them and everyone else from the company."

"So Mr. Samuels didn't want to sell, and everyone else did. What was the offer, and why wouldn't he sell?"

"Mr. Samuels had offers four other times by four different investors before the one two days ago. The offer was unbelievable ten times what it was worth, but that was the last piece of property that had been in the family for generations. It was Martin's dream to build on it himself, a high rise complex with a center for the performing arts, new offices for the Company, and a whole floor suite for the family. There's several buildings in the downtown area named after wealthy Boston families. He looked at the project as his legacy. Martin wouldn't have given up on his dream, not for anyone, that's why no one will ever convince me he committed suicide."

A lot of potential suspects had just been eliminated, and after leaving Faxon drove to police headquarters to see Detective John Walker. He wasn't sure how helpful the detective would be, but a firsthand account of the scene was important."

The Sargent at the front desk didn't ask what his business was or what his name was he picked up the phone and briefly said there's someone to see you. Faxon walked down the hall, the door was open to a small office, the name on the door said Detective John Walker.

"Come in sit down, you a reporter? I really don't have time so make it brief."

Papers covered the desk, the box on the right side said, "in" and it was full, seems there were plenty of unsolved crimes that needed investigating.

"My names Faxon Bennett, I'm a private investigator looking into the death of Martin Samuels, I just wanted to read the scene report. I was told you were there."

John stopped what he was doing and looked across the desk at Faxon. "Who hired you?"

"I can't say," Faxon said.

"Someone in the family, I would guess."

"That would be the most logical conclusion. So do I get to read the report?

"I didn't have any evidence that would lead me to believe it wasn't a suicide, my supervisor listed it as suicide and the coroner's report said it was suicide, and that was the end of the case. As you can see we have plenty to do, you can't read the report, I'd have to get it from the case files and that would alert my captain. But I'll tell you anything you want to know. I don't believe Mr. Samuels committed suicide either."

They talked for thirty minutes, and the detective related his investigation of the garage, the condo, and the roof.

Faxon thought the case over, "so if it was a murder then the guy was a pro. He had to enter through the garage. Did you check any video around the condo from other buildings?"

"Without any other evidence my superior wouldn't let me pursue it."

"Let's say he got in and went up the elevator to the tenth floor, there's a digital record of the elevators movements. If someone did go up to the tenth floor he would have wanted it to stay on that floor until he could get Mr. Samuels out of the condo and into the elevator then up to the roof."

"How would he have done that without leaving drag marks, and how did he keep the elevator on that floor," John asked?

"Easy enough to keep the elevator on that floor just use something to jam the door open. No drag marks, he lifted the unconscious body and carried him."

"That's quite an explanation, the guy would have to be pretty strong, but I guess it could have been done," John said, "a pro, a contract killer."

"We need to check the buildings around the condo to see if there's video, and have someone from the elevator company to check the digital record of the movements," Faxon said.

"I'll go with you, maybe my supervisor won't find out. But you know that even if we find what you're looking for, it's still not proof."

The two men drove to the condo, John insisted on driving his unmarked car. The building next door had two cameras the one in the front showed nothing. But the other camera on the side of the building caught an image of just the legs of a man kneeling in front of the entry key pad.

The maintenance man of the building called the elevator repair company and he met them at the entrance to the garage, meanwhile Faxon used a Swiss Army knife to remove the entry keypad cover and there were obvious signs that it had been tampered with. After putting it back the elevator repairman had downloaded the digital history of the elevator and just like Faxon thought the elevator that night at 1:07 am had gone to the tenth floor and stopped there for twelve minutes. The repairman said the only way that could have happened was if someone or something had held the door open. The record showed it went to the roof and stayed there for seven minutes then back down to the garage.

"Well it was murder, that's for sure but we can't prove anything," John said as they drove back to the station.

"I have a gut feeling it was over that last offer to sell the downtown property," Faxon said, "I'll go back and talk to Mr. Samuels's private secretary, and get information on all the companies that made offers. I think one of them was willing to commit murder to get that property."

Back at the Samuels Company office it was late in the afternoon, Rayna Wilson told the receptionist to send Mr. Bennett to her office. When Faxon came in he noticed her eyes were red and she held a tissue in her hand.

"I'm sorry Mr. Bennett I'm having a hard time forgetting Mr. Samuels. We had gotten close about a year after his wife died. What else can I help you with?"

"Please call me Faxon."

He told her about what he'd found. "What we found isn't proof what I need are the records of all the Company's that made offers on the downtown property, the amounts offered and the company's behind the offers."

Faxon left the office with a box of five files all containing the contracts, records of the meetings, lawyers involved, and relators that represented the offering Company's. It was long after dark by the time he got to where he was going.

Lew Kirin was a friend from high school. He was a private contractor you might say, a recluse, living off the grid, using his skills as a computer hacker for hire dealing in cash only, Faxon knocked on the door.

"Who is it, and what do you want?" Asked the mechanical voice from a speaker beside the door, the video camera was above so Faxon looked up to be identified, he heard the electronic click inside the steel door letting him know it had been unlocked. He carried the box of files in through the dark front room. It was if a hoarder of electronics lived here. He walked toward the light in the back room where Lew sat at a small table eating cereal from a plastic bowl.

"Faxon Bennett, good to see you again buddy, still chasing cheating husbands? Whatever you need I hope you brought me some cash I'm down to eating cereal?"

Faxon explained the job and left Lew with the box of files and then drove back to Ned Devine's. He took his usual seat at the end of the bar and William set his favorite beer in front of him without being asked. Amy Lindsey, also known as the stalker bitch, walked up and sat down beside him.

"So, you turned down a high priced hooker."

"What the hell Amy, did you follow her when she left?"

"She was very chatty, told me you refused a client, another married woman grateful for your service. She was free Faxon I'm a little surprised, after all she wasn't a client."

"I told you I don't associate with customers, ever again. You should be proud of yourself you taught me that."

"I love you Faxon, I'm not giving up that easy, I know it's been a while since you've been with a woman, you can't hold out forever."

Faxon downed his beer then got up to go to his room, "I'll never be that horny you stalker bitch."

He spoke to her as harsh as he could hoping she'd give up and leave him alone.

The next morning Faxon talked to the owner about a ride for the day and he was nice enough to let him drive his 1967 GTO. Now that was a ride, he showed up at Lew's house at just before noon, he brought a couple of steak sandwiches and a six pack of his favorite bottled beer with him. They sat at the small table and ate while Lew told him what he had found out around a mouthful of sandwich.

"Four of the offers were from companies that were easy to track. One from Boston, one from Philly, and two from New York City, one was the infamous Tremp group. But this last one offered ten times what the appraised value was. Here's the realtors name, Manuel Molina, but the investment group is called, Marine Investments. I traced the money to an account in the Cayman Islands, and the CEO is listed as a Saudi named Kasam Rashad Kolmani, he's listed as a member of the royal family and one of the richest men in their country. One other thing he purchases arms from an American Company and hires ex- military for body guards."

"What's the name of the arms dealer here in the U. S.?"

"Cartwright Arms, out of Tennessee."

Faxon paid Lew a thousand dollars for his work and returned the files to Rayna Wilson but didn't tell her what he had found out. He waited until the last day of his contract before calling Mrs. Johnson and going to her home to tell her what had happened. She understood that there was no evidence but seemed to be satisfied that her brother hadn't committed suicide. Faxon was convinced that he'd been assassinated and that the Marine group that had made the final offered was involved.

CHAPTER FOUR

The month's past.

Harper wore a white sundress. She showed just the right amount of tan from ridding the horse's everyday wearing a bikini top. The dress buttoned up the front, and the skirt flared out wide but was well below the knees. She wore sandals; they didn't make her look so tall standing next to Richard. Harper had agreed to meet him at the office. They had another dinner scheduled with a prospective client, David Roberts, owner of one of the largest grocery chains in the Northeast. Richard had put a bid in to do the site development and construction of a distribution center for all his stores. It would be a huge job, an enormous building, the parking lot for semi-trucks alone was staggering.

As soon as she walked into the office company employees all gathered to talk to her, everyone had loved her father. Sam Shepard her father's General Manager heard the noise and came out of his office to see what was going on.

"Damn you look good girl."

She tip toed to hug Sam and kiss his cheek. He was a big man with salt and pepper hair a tough guy like her Father.

"I'm going with Richard to a business meeting. He thinks it gives him an advantage to have Clayton's daughter there. I give them a firm handshake and insult them a few times and their a lot easier to handle."

"Well come on he's in the big office," Sam said.

She followed Sam reluctantly the office that Richard occupied it had been her father's. Richard stood when she walked in with Sam. He kissed her cheek, it surprised Sam he didn't know they were getting so close.

"Wow you look great. We're going to that seafood restaurant on Hwy. 2. Here I want to show you something .You being the principal owner of the company you should read this."

Harper sat down with the folder that Richard had just given her.

"This refers to the property in Boston on Mass. Ave. and Dalton Street. That was my great grandparent's property."

"If you look at the amount their offering Harper I think it's something you'd have to consider. I've checked and it's way over the appraised value."

"Your father would have never sold it Harper," Sam said.

"We talked about this Sam," Richard replied. "It'd mean security for the company way into the future, beyond Harpers children, and security for all our employees."

"No, I won't sell it, not now anyway," Harper interrupted.

"Ok, all I thought was that we should talk about it is all," Richard said.

"Come on let's go, I don't like sitting in here talking about my dad in his office."

Harper hugged Sam before leaving. Richard waited in the car for her and then drove away.

"I understand how you feel about the property Harper, but I had to show you, it's a lot of money," Richard said. "You know you have an engineering degree you could come in and work with us any time you want. I'd love to have you be a bigger part of the company."

"No I don't think so. I'm really committed to competing right now."

When they got to the restaurant there was no valet parking and after pulling into a spot they walked across the parking lot. Richard reached over and held her hand.

Mr. Roberts and his wife met them in the bar. Evelyn Roberts had short brown hair and wore a light blue dress similar to what Harper had on. The men ordered whisky neat, Harper ordered a beer. Evelyn smiled and ordered the same.

At the table Evelyn ordered broiled fish and roasted asparagus, Harper ordered a filet rare with a loaded baked potato and a Caesar salad. Both men ordered the seafood platter and another drink.

"I like you Richard but the price is too high," David Roberts said, "quality is one thing but I don't think the difference in the other bids can be justified. Clayton always outperformed the estimate, but in your proposal I just don't see the payoff for the price. There's two other companies willing to do the job for thirty percent less."

The table was quiet, Mr. Roberts finished his whisky, Richard looked down at the drink in his hand, Mrs. Roberts was about to say something then she looked at Harper. Her face was getting red and her fingers were white as she gripped her glass of beer. Harper drank the full glass down in one gulp and set it down hard on the table, both men were startled. Evelyn Roberts smiled expecting Harper to give her husband a curse laden reply knowing her father's reputation.

"Mr. Roberts, I'm not just my father's daughter, I have a degree in engineering, and that much square footage just in the roof alone for a warehouse that large, and, a parking lot twice that, without proper drainage well you haven't got a chance of getting permits from the county. Lewis Construction happens to be members of the Environmental Society and have done several environmental sensitive projects, and we have a working relationship with the county and government water drainage assessors. We can get projects done, and we can have projects stopped."

Harper leaned back in her chair, and smiled, Mr. Roberts looked like he was in shock at the aggressive tirade and out-right threat he had just received from the attractive young woman.

"Now our plans include a retention pond for rain runoff that's going to keep the surrounding area from flooding, and get your building permits approved with support from the county and the environmentalist. And frankly Mr. Roberts I would think that alone would be worth the difference in price, and if those other companies haven't told you that, or told how they plan on handling the drainage problem, then they're not worth considering."

Evelyn laughed and when the waiter came to the table she ordered another round. Richard was nervous unable to read the expression on Mr. Roberts face, but he reached over and put his hand on Harpers and smiled.

"Well Miss. Lewis, I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I applaud your summation of the project and the difficulties in permitting of the construction. I don't really see there's any other choice in who handles the project for Roberts Grocery. Richard I'll sign the papers whenever you have them ready."

Evelyn laughed again.

"I don't think I've ever heard him told off so eloquently Harper, oh we're going to be such good friends."

By the time they left the restaurant Mr. Roberts was congratulating himself on his choice of companies to build the distribution center. Evelyn had made a date to come out to New Castle Farms and go riding with Harper before the couples drove away.

"Damn Harper, when I saw your face I knew you were going to go off on him. You know I hadn't thought of any of the environmental stuff. You threated him. He looked stunned." Richard reached over and put his hand on Harpers bare thigh just below her dress close to her knee. "I don't think I've ever been so proud. Listen we've both had a few drinks, my house isn't far, why don't you stay there tonight."

"I'll have to call Aunt Rachel." She used her cell phone, "Aunt Rachel, I'm going to stay at Richard's house tonight, you going to be alright there by yourself?"

"Of course, I sleep with my revolver under my pillow."

"Well that's good to know in case I ever have to wake you up."

"You must have had a good evening," Rachel said.

"Yea, when the over important grocer turned us down I had to tell him off, and then I threaten to work against him permitting the construction because of environmental concerns."

"So you did what your father would have done, normal day for you."

"I'm beginning to think these guys push me just to see what I'll do. Word must be getting around I want take their shit."

"Well you have a good time tonight with Richard," Rachel said then hung up.

He lived in a gated community in a three bedroom two bath, ranch style home. Nothing spectacular the furnishings were plan, the house was clean and neat, and the kitchen looked like it had never been used. Harper looked around while Richard poured himself a whisky, she opened the fridge and there were foam containers of takeout food, spoiled milk, some ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. She took a bottle of domestic beer from a six pack that only had three left.

They toasted the contracting of another job clinking glass and bottle together and taking a drink. Harper yawned, and Richard tentatively leaned forward and kissed her.

"Is this your attempt at seduction Richard?"

Harper put her beer down on the kitchen counter and took his hand then led him down the hall to his bedroom. She stopped at the side of the bed and took his jacket off, then his shirt and tie as he slipped his shoes off she unbuckled his belt then unbuttoned his slacks and pushed them down to his ankles with his boxers. Harper let her dress fall to the floor and joined him on the bed.

"I still have my socks on," Richard whispered.

"I'm not gonna to use your feet."

* * *

Two days later early in the morning Jose' and Harper loaded Neck Rider in the fifth wheel, (neck over), mobile home / horse trailer. The truck was hooked up, all her tack and saddle were loaded, she would wait to braid her hair and change into her ridding ware just before the start of the event, The New England Equitation Championship.

Her trainer Walter Keys met them there, Harper was parked along with all the other competitors, and other than a nod none of them said a word to each other. She did speak to the young groomer that she had once gone out with and he wished her success. Jose' saddled Neck Rider and got him ready while Harper and Walter went to check in and get there position. Rachel went to sit in the stands, Harper was sixth out of twelve and the event began.

Richard showed up and found Rachel in the stands. "Harper has the sixth position," Rachel said. They watched as the competition began. Harper stood with Walter and Jose' waiting their turn at the jumper course. No one had received a perfect score, faults, refusals, and knockdowns, the course was difficult.

"You've walked the course. Neck Rider is anxious," Walter said. "Look at me. Be confident, give him his head he wants to please you, he'll feed off your energy, now go out there and show these damn people who you are."

Jose' gave Harper a foot up and she walked her horse out onto the field casually. When she got the start Harper circled once then put her heels to Neck Rider and he responded. Twenty feet to the first two rail fence and he cleared it easily. She had to make a half circle and come back at the first three rail obstacle, his strides were perfect and he went right over. Two more strides then over another two rails, then turn and over a hedge. His strides were perfect, Harper patted his neck and he through his head up, they turned and Neck Rider ran the longest distance to reach the highest of the three rail jumps with a six foot water pool on the other side. Harper held her breath but the fearless horse leaped from a perfect stride tucked his front feet and cleared the top rail and the water. Two more fences and they finished with a perfect run.

The crowd cheered, Harper stood in the stirrups and pumped her fist. As soon as she stopped it was Robert that gave her the first hug and kiss. None of the other riders could beat their pass and she took home the championship.

Weeks pass

Harper continued to show her Hunters and Jumpers, and one afternoon she rode with her friend Evelyn Roberts around the estate."

"So David told me that he talked to Robert out at the site the other day," Evelyn said as they rode.

"I'm surprised, Robert usually doesn't go out to job sites after they've been started," Harper said.

"Davis said he couldn't stop talking about you. He must really love you Harper. It's been my experience that when a man talks that much about a woman it's serious."

"I love Robert, I guess, we get along good enough, he supports me in whatever I want to do, I don't bother him about how to run the business, although he asks me enough."

"I hear, a-but coming," Evelyn said.

"I always thought my mom and dad would be around when I got married, I thought I'd meet a guy like him, tough, hard, sharp tongue."

"From what I've heard about your father, and what I know about you, there might not be another guy like him Harper."

"You might be right."

"Besides, if you were to marry a man like you, hell what kind of children would you have," they both laughed.

* * *

Robert picked up Harper at 8:00, they had reservations for dinner at 9:00, and all he'd tell her about where they were going was to wear your best dress. Aunt Rachel and Harper had gone into the city and bought a Versace gown for her, Robert wore an Armani suit.

"You look amazing," Robert said.

"Thanks, damn thing cost enough. You haven't told me where were going?"

"I'll give you a hint, it was rated the most romantic restaurant in Boston."

"You know I don't give a shit about that kind of stuff Robert."

"No. 9 Park, I know you don't care, but how about tonight you pretend you do, ok?"

"Yea, yea, yea, anything to please you darling," she said in her snottiest attitude.

They got out and the Valet driver parked their car, when they went in their table was ready. Robert had prepaid for their best table and three waiters served them. After dinner he put his napkin down on the table stood and knelt beside Harper's chair, he had a small velvet box in his hand.

"Harper Lewis, I love you, will you marry me?"

The ring was a five karat flawless diamond.

"Yes," she said.

They both stood and kissed, and the few people around them clapped reverently and one of the waiters popped the cork on their most expensive bottle of champagne.

Robert moved in with Harper at New Castle Farms, Aunt Rachel insisted on moving to the pool house to give them more privacy. Harper had a complete renovation done to the one bedroom, one bath pool house. She even had a private garage built with a blacktop driveway from the back around the side of the house to the main driveway.

Harper and Richard scheduled their wedding for December and even though Harper wanted a small wedding the list continued to grow. There were the Lewis Construction employees and one guest each. Then there were the customers and their one guest, and nearby neighbors. Richard reserved the hall at the convention center in Littleton and had a decorating company come in to prepare the huge room. The day of the wedding Harper had asked her Aunt Rachel to walk her down the aisle. The reception was held there too, and then it was off to New Zealand for their honey moon. They stayed two weeks touring the country.

After they returned home they both resumed their routines. Richard sat in his large office and his cell phone rang. It was a call he wasn't expecting.

"Richard Mathis," he answered. (Pause) "I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon Sir. (Pause) I've tried for months Sir. You have to give me some more time. (Pause) Well we're married now. I suspect I can get her to change her mind soon Sir. (Pause) I understand Lieutenant Commander." And then there was a click, and the call was over.

CHAPTER FIVE

Faxon had met with James Cullen the day before. He explained to the crime reporter for the Boston Herald that there was no definitive proof of Martin Samuel's murder, but he had promised James he'd tell him everything. It had been a week since he had taken Sara Johnson's case and he'd put off giving her his report as long as he could.

James didn't waste any time writing the article about Martin Samuel's death now weeks after. In the morning paper, the article quoted his sister, saying that her brother would have never committed suicide. James quoted Mr. Samuel's secretary for the last fifteen years verifying what the sister had said. The sons refused to comment for the article, but several employees and construction workers also commented that Mr. Samuels would not have committed suicide. The article quoted the building maintenance man where Mr. Samuels lived that the face of the key touch pad had been removed. And that there had been video from the building next door of a man's feet as he knelt next to the key pad on the night in question. James interviewed several people that were going to be involved in the construction of the multi-storied building and the performing arts center, and that it was Mr. Samuels dream to see the project completed. But James Cullen ended the article with the police department's official report that Martin Samuels's death was suicide.

"I'm here to see Detective John Walker." Faxon stood in front of the front desk as the duty sergeant called the detectives office.

"Go ahead, he's waiting for you," he said after setting the phone down.

In the office they shook hands and he sat down, Faxon saw the Boston Herald on the detective's desk.

"My superiors crawled up my ass about that article Cullen wrote, but I told them he investigated it himself. I went back and pulled a fingerprint from the inside of the keypad box, and the bottom of the elevator door. I ran it but didn't get a hit, so the man's still unknown. I also blew up the image of the shoes the guy was wearing when kneeling in front of the keypad, we've got the pattern of the soles of his boots, but still nothing that would lead to the man. I also called my friend over at ATF," John said. "I had him check the sale of guns from that Cartwright Arms to the Saudi national and it's all above board, someone has a lot of pull to get that deal done."

"I could talk to the realtor that's handling the sale of the property," Faxon said "but I don't have anyone paying me, so without something else pointing to murder, and a paying client, I guess I'm done. I do have to make a living."

"Here I got something for you." Detective Walker handed him a piece of paper. "Mrs. Franks, her son was beat up pretty bad. He's at Mass. General, critical condition. His name's Tom Franks he was found down near the inner harbor, he was probably buying drugs, but she calls every day wanting to know if we've caught the guys. I told her it wasn't our top priority and that she might have more luck hiring a private detective to find out who did it."

"Thanks, I'll call her. Has she got money?"

"Yea her husbands a big trader, they can pay."

"Listen, if I find the guys that beat him up and he can identify them I'll call."

"Yea, that's all I've got to do is go around picking up drug thugs."

* * *

"Mr. Molina, I need you to go and make another offer on that property. I'm calling because we expect that Mr. Samuels sons to accept now. However we want to reduce the offer by half. It's still higher than they'll get from anyone else. I'm sure Payton and Kerin Samuels will accept. As soon as you get a signed contract fax it to the Marine Group, your commission will be wired into your account."

"Sir we've only talked a few times, but I can't help but think that you knew Mr. Samuels wouldn't stand in the way of the purchase of the property from our last conversation."

"You're being paid to handle the group's purchase of properties and being paid handsomely. My suggestion to you Mr. Molina is, stop thinking so much. It may be bad for your health."

* * *

"Mrs. Franks this is Faxon Bennett, I'm calling because Detective Walker said you might like to hire a private detective to look into the assault on your son?"

"Yes Mr. Bennett, I'm at the hospital now, my son is awake and can describe the three men that beat him."

"I have to make a stop first Mrs. Franks, but I'm on my way to the hospital."

Faxon went by the Ned Devine's.

"William is Mary here?"

"She's in the back."

Mary was a twenty year old art student. She had helped him one other time with an identification drawing. She was getting things out of the cooler for the bar back.

"Hey Mary how would you like to make some quick cash," Faxon said.

"Another bad guy," she asked?

"I have a client in the hospital, he was beaten up pretty bad, but he can describe the three guys. I need you to do a likeness of them. How about two hundred? It shouldn't take thirty minutes."

"If William lets me go, sure," she said.

Mary got her back pack with her large sketch pad and pencils.

"I'm not too young for you ya know. I haven't seen you with a girl since I've been working at Ned Devine's."

"Being a private detective sure isn't glamorous, and it seems not very high paying, taking pictures of cheating husbands, tracking down three guys that nearly beat this guy to death. It's hard to meet the right person."

At the hospital Tom Franks described the three guys to Mary, she showed him the drawings, then made changes, and they went back and forth until he was satisfied. He gave height and weight to Faxon and Mrs. Franks wrote a check for five thousand dollars, with the agreement that if Faxon tracked them down and there was an arrest made she'd pay five thousand more. Her son would likely be in the hospital for a week and if he couldn't go to the station to identify the perpetrators she'd still pay.

Faxon paid Mary the two hundred and got a kiss on the cheek. He had the exact location of the attack down near the old warehouse section of the docks. Tom had said that he was attacked just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He drove the old Jeep and parked alongside the building, the windows were at least ten feet above the ground and half of them were knocked out. An old sea freighter was docked about a hundred yards away and Faxon looked at the name painted across the back. The Desert Sun, then his cell phone rang.

"Faxon Bennett Investigations" he said.

"Mr. Bennett I was referred by Shira Brennon, my names Lisa Colman. I own a ladies apparel shop, high end women's shoes, bags, clutches things like that. A semi-truck load of inventory was stolen and it wasn't insured, it's over eight hundred thousand dollars retail in inventory. I would pay two percent to get it back."

"When did it go missing Mrs. Colman?"

"It's Miss. And you can call me Lisa. Today, this afternoon, the driver stopped for lunch and when he came out the rig was gone. If you find it the driver's offering a reward for the return of the truck and trailer too, he's an independent."

Faxon got Miss Colman's information and the address of her shop. He looked around and the area was deserted, no one around anywhere. He got out of the jeep and put his thirty eight in his back pocket, then walked around the side of the warehouse. There was a steel staircase going up the side of the metal building and a door at the top. Faxon walked up the stairs, the door was padlocked, it looked new, and he thought who would put a new lock on an abandoned warehouse? He had to lean away from the rail at the top of the stairs to see inside a window. There were no lights on but even in the dark he could see there were semi-trucks and trailers parked inside.

Back down the steps he walked back to the front of the warehouse and checked the small entry door. There was a new padlock on it too. Faxon pulled on the large rollup door and it was locked from the inside. He went back to the Jeep and decided to sit and wait a little while, if something criminal was going on the men would be back tonight.

It was 2:00 am when the sound of a big truck woke him. One man got out of the cab and unlocked the small door in front and went in. Even though Faxon was parked down the dock he could see the man had a military haircut and carried himself the same. Height and weight he could be one of the men he was looking for. It was just a hunch but Tom Franks might have been beat up by the same guys that were high-jacking trucks. Faxon dialed Detective John Walker.

"John, Faxon here."

From John's answer he knew he'd just woke, in the background he heard a female voice ask, "who the hells calling this time of night?"

"A huge pain in my ass, try to go back to sleep dear. I knew when I gave you my cell number I was gonna to regret it."

"Listen, I think I found the three guys that beat up Tom Franks and the reason why. I'm down here in the inner harbor, dock 21, their using an abandoned warehouse to park stolen trucks."

"You could have told me that in the morning, Bennett."

"They wouldn't be here in the morning, this is our chance to catch the guys and thwart a multi-million dollar truck theft ring, and maybe who's behind it. One more thing the guy I saw had a military issue rifle, their heavily armed."

"Damn, ok I'm on my way I'll call the swat team, and don't try to do anything on your own Bennett don't be a hero let us take care of it."

Faxon waited and in about thirty minutes he saw heavily armed men in body armor surrounding the building. The roll up door had been closed after the semi-truck had been driven in, and two of the swat members blew the door and toss in two flash-bang grenades. A dozen armed men poured through the door and Faxon could hear the sound of automatic firearms, it was all over in a matter of moments and the swat team members started filing back out checking their guns. Detective Walker's unmarked car pulled up near the door with his blue dash light flashing and Faxon hurried to join him.

One of the patrol officers that crowded the dock tried to stop him.

"It's ok, he's with me," John said.

They walked inside the warehouse, the smoke still hadn't cleared. Detective Walker checked the first body not far from the door. Faxon stood beside him.

"Military boots," Faxon said. The man wore jeans a t-shirt and a jacket he sported a military haircut too. Faxon unfolded the three drawings of the men that had beaten Tom Franks, he found one and held it next to the man's face with Detective Walkers flashlight on it.

"Looks like you were right Bennett, that's a pretty good likeness," John said.

Faxon put the picture back in his pocket and knelt down, and pulled off the man's jacket.

"What the hell Bennett, what are you looking for?"

Faxon tore the right sleeve of the man's shirt.

"Tattoos," and there it was, a tattoo of a bad dog showing lots of teeth. Above it was Semper-Fi, written in cursive, below that was, Hoooo-Rah, under the picture of the bad dog in big block letters was, USMC.

"I'll bet they all have the same tattoo," he said.

The Detective and Faxon checked the other three dead men and he was right they all had the same tattoo and the pictures matched the likeness of each man. John Walker went to talk to the commander of the swat team. Inside the warehouse there were three semi-trucks and trailers, and six large shipping containers, one of the trailers were open. The dead men had been unloading the trailer full of electronics and filling a shipping container. Faxon checked the cab and found shipping papers from Honey Well, the electronics shipment was meant for a Government contractor in New York.

Faxon checked each truck, and the next one was full of cell phones, laptops, and computers. In the third truck he found the shipment of women's accessories meant for Lisa Colman. "What the hell would they want with women's apparel, must have been a mistake," he thought.

"So what did you find," the detective asked?

"A truck load of electronics from Honey Well in route to a Government contractor in New York. Another trailer full of cell phones, and computers, the third a truck load of women's accessories, I don't see the connection they must have gotten the wrong truck."

"Well I'm not that smart Bennett, but let's see, ex-military high jacking trucks, loading the goods into shipping containers," John said.

"And a freighter at the dock with the name, Desert Sun, I bet we find a connection to the Marine Group and the ship registration connected to Kasam Rashid Kolmani."

"What do you know? What's going on here," John asked?"

"I don't know, but I suspect. An offshore company owned by a Saudi, involved in the theft of millions of dollars of goods, hiring ex-military, buying high priced property, maybe involved in murder by a man that had the skills to make it look like suicide, and buying arms from an American arms dealer with permits from the ATF."

"I'll quietly check the registration of the Desert Sun to see if your theory's right Bennett."

"By the way John, one of these trucks belongs to a client of mine, the woman's apparel, I get a finder's fee on the truck and a percentage of the recovered goods. Do you think I could call the truck owner and have him come pick it up?"

"Yea sure, we'll close our eyes. I can't believe it has anything to do with the case. Go ahead, and I'll credit you for finding the others, I'm sure there'll be a recovery fee for them too. Someone may as well make something."

He waited to call the truck owner operator until 6:00 am. As soon as he showed up at the docks the driver took the load to Lisa Colman's lady's apparel shop on Park Street near Beacon Hill. Faxon followed, he had to park in a garage down the street and walk to the shop.

Inside were rows of women's stilettos, and pumps, expensive name brand handbags and clutches, belts and in the back fancy women's under garments. There was only one customer in the store this early and one of the two sales girls waited on her. The other girl smiled as she walked toward him.

"How may I help you, Sir," she smiled as she said it and reached out and took hold of his forearm.

"My names Faxon Bennett, I'm here to see Lisa Colman."

"Sure, come, I'll walk you to her office."

The tall pretty girl never let go of his arm as she escorted him. When they got to the door she quickly turned to face him, she stood very close and her hand slid down his arm until she was holding his hand.

"My names Serena, has anyone told you you're very handsome," she smiled, "can I get you a cup of coffee, Faxon, or anything really?"

"A cup of coffee would be great."

She knocked on the door and they heard a woman's voice say, "Come" Serena opened the door.

"Miss. Colman, Mr. Bennett is here to see you."

She stood up, "I was expecting you, the truck driver called and said you'd found my shipment and he'd be here soon."

Lisa leaned against the front of the desk. Serena came back in with a small cup of cappuccino. She handed it to him and then left the room closing the door behind her. Lisa Colman was a forty year old attractive woman with very short black hair she looked like the cover girl for fashion and grace.

"Well you're everything Shira said you were, young, handsome, very well built, and extremely competent. I didn't expect such a fast response."

She walked back around the desk and sat in her chair, took out a checkbook from the top drawer, and began writing. When she was done she tore it out of the book.

"Eighteen thousand dollars, I have the invoice right here if you want to check it?"

"No I take your word for it, I got lucky following up on a led at the docks and found your truck in a warehouse."

"I should have offered one percent," she laughed. "I guess there's no use in trying to seduce you, Shira says you're a principled man and you have a rule about clients."

"Let's just say I learned the hard way not to mix business with pleasure."

Faxon left with the check for eighteen thousand and the drivers reward for finding his rig. He hung around the bar for a few days, only once did he run into stalker bitch. Faxon gave Mary another hundred for her help, it only seemed right for the circumstances. Detective Walker called and gave him an update on the ship registration, and it was indeed a Saudi registered vessel. They both connected the possible stolen goods to Kasam Rashid Kolmani and the Marine Group.

Faxon got a call from Martin Samuels Secretary Rayna Wilson, and she confirmed the sale of the property in question it was sold to the Marine Group. Both Detective Walker and Faxon believed the group was laundering money from the stolen goods and God knows what else. Faxon theorized that the firearms could possibly be for arming Islamic rebels, the whole time angry that it could be retired military helping.

* * *

It had been months. He sat at his small table in the kitchen of his apartment above the bar with just a pair of white boxers and a t-shirt on. It was 11:00 am, his socked feet were on the window sill and he leaned back in the chair teetering on the two back legs drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. There was snow on the window sill and he had plans on staying in the whole day.

The sports section, the obituaries, and then he read James Cullen's crime article, he wrote a story about an influential family that lived outside of town on a large estate. There had been a fire and the family mansion had burned to the ground taking the lives of the family matriarch and the eldest son and daughter. The article ended with the fire marshals report that it had been arson.

Faxon sat up and picked up his cell phone and called the Boston Herald.

"I'd like to speak to James Cullen."

"Hold please," said the operator.

"James Cullen," he answered.

"James, it's Faxon Bennett, I read your article today. You're going to think I'm paranoid. That house that burnt down, an offer to buy the estate hadn't been turned down by the owner had it?"

"You know Faxon I didn't ask. You're thinking that if they didn't want to sell someone gave them a little incentive, like Martin Samuels suicide."

"I'm finding coincidences involving that Marine group," Faxon said.

"I guess I could call the family and ask if someone had made an offer on the estate?"

"No I can find out, I have a friend that can get the information."

After a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup Faxon stretched out on the couch and was watching a history channel show on alligator hunting in Louisiana and he drifted off to sleep. Only about an hour had gone by when his cell phone rang.

"Hello," it was 2:00 pm but his gravelly voice sounded like he had just got out of bed.

"Is this Faxon," asked a woman's voice?

"Yes, who am I speaking with?"

"This is Barbie, Barbie Benton. Remember, I live at the Boston View Apartments, 130 Bowdoin Street, Apartment 1202. You've been there, you took some pictures, but the last time we saw each other was at Ned Devine's upstairs in the bar, remember now?"

"Yea, of course, sure, what can I do for you Barbie?"

"I have this client, I should say ex-client, he won't leave me alone, he comes by uninvited, he tries to run off my other clients, and he takes pictures of them and then threatens to expose them. He's starting to hurt my business. Before you ask, I've refused to see him."

"Barbie why don't you file for a restraining order against him," he asked?

"Yea well, I don't really want the authorities attention if you know what I mean, how am I going to explain about my occupation."

"Ok, I should have thought of that. I'm going to need to come by, when's a good time, I don't want to run into any of your clients."

"Come by today, before 10:00 pm though."

Faxon got up and took a shower, brushed his teeth, combed his hair thinking it was time for a trim. He put on a pair of jeans, boots, and a sweatshirt, wrapped a scarf around his neck and put on a jacket with a hood. The streets were just starting to get icy so he called a cab before he left the bar.

"Damn, it's cold in here what's up with the heat," Faxon asked the driver?

"Broken sir, sorry sir, I have to drive what they give me," the Cabbie said.

He dropped Faxon off in front of the apartments telling the driver not to wait he hoped he'd get a different cab when he was ready to leave, up the elevator and down the hall to number 1202.

Barbie greeted him wearing a pair of shorts and a grey sweat shirt and socks, no shoes. She hugged him and kissed his cheek then turned and walked through the apartment to the kitchen. She was drinking a soda from a can, she opened the fridge and pulled out the brand of bottled beer he liked, took off the cap and poured it into a cold glass from the freezer.

"See, I remembered what you drank from the night at Ned Devine's. I have to admit though it's part of the job."

Faxon took a drink then took out his pad of paper.

"What's his name?"

"Jason Frisch, he's an accountant with a company in the financial district, Clark and Beck."

"Tell me everything you know about him, everything."

Faxon took another drink of his beer.

"He's married, he drives a black Beamer, he has two kids, daughters, his wife works at a law office, Briggs and Briggs, and she's a secretary. Jason hangs out at Bleacher Bar, when he's not stalking me."

She didn't know his home address but that would be easy enough for Faxon to get. He finished the beer and without asking, Barbie got him another one and poured it in the glass.

"I'm going to need to put pressure on him, enough that he'll forget about you, so that means I'll need to follow him for a few days then meet him in the right place. If you see him around just ignore him."

"Faxon, sweetie, I don't think I can afford your fee."

"Damn Barbie you charge more than I do."

"Well I'm a customer, so we can't trade the fee out, can we? Hell you wouldn't even do me when I was free."

Barbie stood beside Faxon and put one arm around his shoulders and ran her other hand through his hair.

"I happen to know you did pretty good last week."

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Women talk Faxon, I know Shira and Lisa Colman, I buy shoes from her, and I guess we talk about men we can't have, it's frustrating you know."

"I'm not doing it for free Barbie."

"You need a haircut, let me do it." She went into the back room and came back out with a kit that had brushes, combs, and a pair of electric clippers."

"I don't know about this?"

"It's what I used to do, I was a hair dresser, I went to barber school, and well, it's just the men wanted more than just a haircut."

Barbie put a smock around him and began cutting Faxon's hair, he sipped his beer as he thought about all the angles and ways he could ruin this guy Jason's life, while Barbie talked.

"Say who's that woman that followed me out of Ned Devin's that night I saw you there? She had a lot of questions about what we were doing."

"That's the stalker bitch that made me swear off ever having anything to do with a client. I don't know why but women that want me to catch their husbands fooling around on them, and well they always seem to want to get back at them with me. Well now that bitch want leave me alone."

"So you had sex with her?"

"Yea, once, and never again, I can't get rid of her."

"Shira, she wanted you bad," Barbie said. "So you want me to set you up with a nice girl?"

"No, thanks, I can find my own dates."

"From what I see you don't have any dates. There I'm done you look great."

Barbie gave him a hand held mirror to look and Faxon was satisfied. He finished his third beer and started to leave.

"That was a thousand dollar haircut," Barbie said smiling.

"We won't agree on a price right now but it's not going to be free, and we're not trading it out either."

"Ok," Barbie hugged him and kissed his cheek goodbye, "You know we could be good friends, I've never had a guy friend, and it's kind of comfortable knowing you're not trying to get me in bed."

Faxon waited in the lobby until a cab came, then he ran out and got in, this one had the heat on and drove him back to the bar, and his warm room.

CHAPTER SIX

Harper drove her pickup to the office to have lunch with her husband. She talked with the young girl at the front desk. Kate had ridden horses her whole life, her father was a trainer. She'd heard about Harper's recent success at every event she had participated in recently.

"Kate if you want you're welcome to come out to New Castle and I'll let you ride one of my hunters, the trainer I work with is Walter Keys, if you meet his approval I'll let you ride in an event."

"Harper I would really love to, tell me when and I'll be there."

"Well come by Saturday morning, Walter will be there, we're getting ready for The Hampton Classic, they have a junior class. It would be a good first event for you. You know the dress is formal for a hunter event right?"

"Yea, I've got all that, I road in some junior events for my Dads clients, so I'm not a complete novice."

"Well I've got a great hunter that I haven't had time to show, he's a five year old thoroughbred gelding, he's a tall horse 17 hands, he's determined and takes long strides, I'd love to see you ride him in an event."

Harper left Kate excited about riding with her. She knocked on the open office door, Richard was looking at a file open on his desk, and she noticed the frown on his face. Harper looked around the room as she walked in, it still looked too much like it did when her father sat in that chair and she would have thought Richard would have remodeled like they had discussed.

"I thought you were going to remodel the office?"

"I just haven't had time Harper."

"What were you frowning at when I walked in?"

"This," he turned the file around on the desk and Harper looked at it standing up. She read the heading at the top. It was printed on expensive paper, The Marine Group. She knew what it was in reference to the first paragraph had the address of Mass. Ave. and Dalton St. It was the family property in the Boston city limits. It was prime real estate near the Hynes Convention Center and the Sheraton Boston Hotel. The letter went on to say this would be their last offer and it referenced that it was well above the appraised value of the property. Harper looked at the bottom where a man named Manuel Molina signed. She closed the file and threw it in the trash can beside the desk.

"Are you ready to go to lunch?"

Richard's face turned red, he picked the file out of the trash and stood, and he held the offer in his hand and pointed at it.

"Damn-it Harper, did you even look at what their offering, it's a fortune, your father had no intention of building on that property, He was holding out for an offer just like this one. It'd be different if he had some grand plan to build a high rise and attach his name to it. You're just being stubborn."

Harper leaned over the desk, and they were nearly face to face.

"A week, I'll give you a week to have this office remodeled or I'll have Sam bring a crew in here and have everything torn out and do it myself."

Richard leaned back as Harper raised her voice.

"I told you I won't sell that property, and if you show me that offer again, I'll stick it up your ass, do you understand?"

"Oh that's so lady like Harper. The office not being redecorated," he asked? "Is that what this is about? Hell I'll start on it today, but at least consider the offer, people dream their whole lives hoping to make money like that."

"It's all about the money with you isn't it? Money, money, money, you're concerned about your percentage of that sale. You don't give a damn that the property was my great grandfather's inheritance passed on to my mother. This isn't about my father. I had a mother you know?"

"You ride your horses and your motorcycles, and go to hunt camp with your fathers friends and you don't give a damn about this company. I'm the one here every day making the deals kissing the ass of prospective clients all in the name of Lewis."

Harper walked to the door and turned around. "Fuck you Richard." She walked out of the office, the door hadn't been shut and nearly everyone had heard them yelling at each other. Harper drove home.

Aunt Rachel couldn't help but see how angry she still was. The two of them sat out back in the cold talking about the argument that she had with Richard. It gave her time to cool off, literally, and finally Rachel talked her into going inside and having a cup of hot tea, more for herself than Harper.

Rachel had an appointment with a neighbor to go to yoga and left her at the house. She kept thinking about yelling at Richard and about the office not being remodeled. She had done nothing about her father's office here at the house. It looked just like it did when he had died, she had told herself she'd pack everything away and had neglected to do it.

She drove to the local truck rental lot, inside they sold packing supplies and she bought a stack of boxes and a couple rolls of strong tape then went back to the house. Harper had to fold the boxes together and tape one end closed then she began to fill them one at a time. Old files from the desk drawers, a stapler, the desk plaque with her father's name on it, in another box she started putting books from the shelves behind the desk. Harper stopped and looked at the three full boxes, and the rest of the room.

The books were all lined up on the shelves, their spines flush with the front edge, but that left enough room behind them and Harper found a three inch in diameter tube with end caps. Written on the outside was the name Lewis, she sat in the desk chair and opened the tube. Inside were a set of blue prints, Harper pulled them out and unrolled them across the cleared desk, they looked like they had been in there a long time. She weighted the corners down with four books and at the top it read in large letters, THE LEWIS TOWERS, it was a plan for two towers, thirty floors each connected at the bottom for retail stores. The lower floors for commercial offices and the upper floors for residences, the design of the building was modern, but with form and style. It made Harper cry, this was her father's dream for that property, he did have a plan, something he would leave with the Lewis name on it. There was a written proposal to sell the condos on the upper floors to finance the building of the towers. Then the doorbell rang.

Harper went to the door and looked out the window at a man holding a rather large bouquet of flowers.

"Mrs. Lewis?"

He asked after she opened the door.

"I'm Harper Lewis."

"I have a delivery, and here's a card, where would you like these?"

"In the dining room I guess, follow me."

Harper led the delivery man into the dining room and he set them down on the large, dark, hardwood table.

"Would you like them all in here, Mrs. Lewis?"

"There's more," she asked?

The flowers all came with vases and she had him place them around the house, the family room, the kitchen, one even in Aunt Rachel's pool house on the bar. After the delivery man left she opened the card, Harper smiled, she knew who they were from and wondered what the card would say. It was simple and written in Richards hand writing.

"Harper, I'm sorry, I love you."

She put the card on the side table by the door where Richard would put his keys when he came in. She went back to work filling boxes, then with a hand truck she wheeled them out to the utility room and stacked them against the far wall. Everything was out of the office except for the blue prints that she left spread out on the desk.

Rachel came home and found Harper in the office mopping the hardwood floor and dusting the shelves.

"Wow, I didn't know you had it in you, you could have had the maid do it when she comes on Tuesday ya know."

"You're so funny, look what I found."

Harper showed Rachel her father's plans and explained where she found them, they both agreed this should shut Richard up about the property, but considering all the flowers neither of them thought the property would be an issue again.

Rachel made spaghetti with a meat sauce and took her dinner to the pool house.

When Richard got home he smelled the aroma of the red sauce coming from the pot on the stove and noticed one of the large bouquets of flowers on the bar. He walked through the house. The flowers added something to the rooms in winter, a touch of spring before its time. Richard called Harpers name.

"In here Richard," she said from the office.

When he walked into the empty office and looked around. Harper sat behind the desk.

"Wow, I get the hint. I'll have the office done before the weeks out. I had some of the guys help me box things up after you said, fuck you, and left."

"I'm sorry," Harper said "look what I found when I was cleaning out dad's office. I found them behind the books on one of the shelves."

Robert looked at the plans.

"Well it looks like he had a plan for that property after all, but Harper if you plan on pursuing this project you're going to have to do it yourself. I'll commit the company but everybody heard us today and I love you, but if you're going to do this it's going to have to be your project."

"We'll I'm not ready to commit full time to something this large. I might take the plans to the city development committee and maybe have a study done on the possibility of selling the condo units as a means of financing. But I'm not going to break ground anytime soon, and I'll have to talk to Sam about how we commit to a project this big and still handle the jobs that you sell. I won't take from you to see the project done, so until that's worked out, nothing's gonna happen."

Harper kissed Robert, "thanks for all the flowers. I guess we had our first fight."

"I hope we don't have another, you're pretty damn good at getting the best of me."

"Come on let's eat," Harper said.

* * *

On Saturday morning Harper was at the stables, Jose' was saddling Neck Rider, the fences were already set up and even though it was cold there wasn't any snow or ice on the ground. Walter Keys, the trainer arrived wearing his heaviest coat, scarf, and a fedora hat. Harper had made one pass after warming up Neck Rider when they heard a car pull in. She introduced Kate then went to make another pass. Kate explained to Walter that she had ridden in some hunter junior events.

Jose' went and got Tao saddled up and then adjusted the fences more suited to a hunter course and Harper stood with Walter while Kate rode. Walter barked out orders to the young girl and after they stopped for the day the older trainer was satisfied that Kate would be able to compete, but she'd have to commit more time to practice. Jose' put the tack away and brushed down the horses, Walter said goodbye and the two girls sat in the office at the stables and had a cup of hot coffee.

* * *

In the early morning hours the day of the Hampton Classic, Harper's truck was hooked up to the neck over trailer and all the tack had been loaded. Walter would ride with Robert to the event, Kate and Jose' would ride in the king cab with Harper.

At the event she parked along with all the other competitors and then while Jose' stayed with the horses Kate and Harper went to walk the courses. They paced them off and checked all the fences Harper explained to Kate about how Tao had long strides and how many to expect between each of the barriers. The girls walked back to the trailer and Robert and Walter had arrived, Robert kissed Harper.

"Kick their ass out there today, I'm going to go get a cup of coffee and find a place in the stands, damn place is packed today."

It was a very pleasant day, the air was crisp but it was warming up, it wasn't quite a spring day but they weren't far off. Walter talked to a very nervous Kate while Harper smiled and listened. Kate's father found them and wished his daughter luck then had to get back to his employer.

The two girls went into the mobile home part of the horse trailer and dressed. Kate had to dress in a much more formal uniform for Hunter class, Harper always dressed nice even though the jumper class was more lenient focusing on the jumps more than what the riders wore.

Harper went third in the jumper event and she had a perfect round, Neck Rider was the horse to beat at the event, he had this fearless attitude reflecting his rider's confidence. She received the largest applause of all the jumpers and was beginning to receive more unwanted attention from the other riders. Harper hadn't been their friend until her success and didn't see why she had to fake friendship now. Walter scolded her for her indifference, telling her this is the way of the sport. She gave an interview to an equestrian magazine reporter, attributing her success to Walter Keys, her trainer, and her horse Neck Rider.

Kate drew the sixth run out of the twelve participants in the hunter class, she was nervous but Harper told her to relax, no one expected anything from her performance.

"Let Tao do the work, and pretend you're just out for a nice ride just dressed in fancy clothes."

Tao trotted up to the start and as she circled the announcer called out horse and rider, but said Harper Lewis owner and rider of Tao instead of Kate Wilson. It should have been horse Tao, owned by Harper Lewis, ridden by Kate Wilson. Kate didn't even hear the announcer she came out of her turn and cleared the first fence. Tao cantered to the next one and cleared it easily he turned and cleared a hedge then started for the next jump. It was the highest of the course, Kate leaned forward and Tao started to balk, then started again, and as he went over the fence the horse collapsed head first. His whole body went limp, his legs crumbled under him throwing Kate forward onto the grass hard. Tao was half on his side not moving, Kate was writhing on her back holding her right arm.

Harper was the first to Kate and it was obvious her arm was broken. Right behind her was two Emergency Medical Technicians and they began to immobilize Kate's arm, her father was there with a crowd, and security was trying to move people back. Event officials proclaimed the horse dead and were trying to figure out how to remove it from the course, Harper and Walter stood over the dead animal as Richard and Jose' pushed their way through the crowd. Walter noticed blood coming from the horse's ear. Harper leaned down and checked it. Richard hugged her after she stood.

"He's been shot," Harper whispered.

Richard's face turned white. Harper noticed. Her thoughts were that someone had killed the horse to keep her from winning another event. Then she couldn't remember hearing the sound of a gun.

It was late before the event officials could get a box truck with a wench, Harper waited until Tao was loaded and taken away. Kate had already gone to the hospital, Jose' loaded Neck Rider and drove the truck and trailer back home to the stables. Walter went home. Harper and Richard drove to the hospital. The ride was quiet except for a brief conversation about what Harper had whispered to Richard.

"Everyone believed Tao had a brain hemorrhage," Harper said "I can't believe it. Who the hell would be so zealous about an event that they would kill a horse to keep someone from winning?"

Richard never responded. At the hospital Harper found Kate's father in the emergency waiting room. Kate's compound fracture of her right arm needed surgery. Her father assumed the horse his daughter had ridden suffered a massive brain hemorrhage like everyone else. After about two hours the doctor came out and reported that it was a routine compound fracture, and that everything had gone fine, and that when she woke from the anesthesia she could go home. The three of them waited in her room and soon she came around.

"Harper, oh God Harper I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened, is Tao alright?"

Her father tried to console her, "it's alright Kate don't worry about that right now, as soon as the doctor comes in we'll go home."

"No dad, Harper is Tao alright?"

"It's ok Kate, you didn't do anything wrong. Tao's dead."

"What? Dead, I was going toward the fence and he hesitated at first, I thought his stride was off then he started over, I thought he would make it easily. Then I heard this thud, close to my head and then we were going down on the other side, he just went limp. Harper I'm so sorry."

Kate cried, and Harper consoled her.

"All that matters is that you're alright Kate, you didn't do anything wrong, you would have won I have no doubt, these things happen."

Richard drove them home, he was uncharacteristically quiet, and Harper couldn't get the thought out of her mind that someone had shot Tao. She kept thinking why hadn't someone tried to shoot Neck Rider, she had won her event. She looked over at the stables as they came through the gates and drove toward the house.

Aunt Rachel had already gone to bed, Harper sat on a stool at the bar in the kitchen, tired but unable to sleep.

"Come to bed," Richard said. "It won't do you any good to keep thinking about this, I guess we should have called the Hampton police."

"There were so many people, and I wasn't thinking right, it was such a shock, but I know what a bullet wound looks like from a rifle. Go on and go to bed I'll be up soon."

When Harper finally went to bed Richard was asleep, she lay in bed most of the night awake. When Richard's alarm buzzed and he got up to get ready for work she faked being asleep. After he finished getting ready he walked over to Harper's side of the bed, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. In a few minutes she heard him down in the kitchen, probably making a cup of coffee, and then she heard the side door shut. Harper didn't get up until he drove away.

In the kitchen she poured a cup of coffee and Aunt Rachel walked in. "Damn girl you look like shit, you and Richard still arguing?"

"No." She explained what had happened at the event, even hearing it again upset her, someone involved in the outcome of the show, specifically the hunter class, killed her horse to win an event. Or maybe other events in the future, there were plenty of owners with enough money, and enough balls to hire a hit on a horse, but the thought that it had happened to her drove her anger.

"Well they don't know who their fucking with," she ended their conversation.

"That's my girl," Aunt Rachel said. The phone rang.

"This is Harper Lewis."

"Mrs. Lewis this is Lieutenant Colman from the Hampton police department. Late yesterday a local veterinarian that was at the Hampton Classic did the examination of your horse. The organizers of the event needed to make sure it wasn't due to drugs, abuse, or any infectious contagion. However what he found was equally disturbing. Mrs. Lewis your horse was shot."

"Lieutenant Colman I'm in shock right now, I'd like to come in and speak to you personally, I'm going by my friend Kate's home to check on her broken arm and then I'll come to the Hampton Police Station."

Harper was tired but still ran on adrenaline and emotion from the day before. She stopped at the barn and talked to Jose', she took him into her confidence and told him about the bullet wound to Tao's head.

Harper left the stables and drove to Kate's house. It was an old small workers farmhouse rebuilt and remodeled by her father on the family property. An old wooden home with two bedrooms and a Ben Franklin stove in the corner for heat. It was furnished in early American antiques, probably family heirlooms, Harper thought.

Kate sat in a chair near the old stove to stay warm. Her arm was in a sling, she held it across her stomach, and Kate's father served her a hot cup of coffee.

"Harper I'm so sorry about Tao, did you find out what happened?"

"Not yet, but I'm going up to Hampton to see the event veterinarian, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, should be back to work tomorrow, I can answer phones left handed, I need my work Harper."

"You're not going in tomorrow," her father spoke up.

"Take some time off Kate, there's no hurry for you to come back. You scared the shit out of me. That was a hard fall. I have no doubt that you'd have won that event Kate."

"I keep thinking about what happened Harper, when I approached the fence Tao hesitated, I thought he was going to balk the jump, but I could swear I heard this thump, like a slap to the side of his head just as I felt him leap. He hesitated, only a second, maybe he knew something was wrong, maybe he felt my fear, I don't know."

* * *

From there Harper drove to Hampton and the police station.

"I've come to see Lieutenant Colman, my names Harper Lewis."

"Yes Mrs. Lewis the lieutenant has been expecting you, right this way."

"Good morning Mrs. Lewis, please sit," the lieutenant motioned to a chair in front of the desk. "Mrs. Lewis do you know anyone that would want to kill your horse, or would have any reason at all?"

"Please just call me Harper. I don't know how much you know about equestrian events in the Northeast but about every competitor was there. Everyone involved certainly has the means and the ambition."

"Yes, a rich crowd, and I have no doubt of their determination to win."

The lieutenant set a small clear container with a lid on the desk, and it contained the remains of a bullet. Harper had seen enough of them dug out of deer to know it was from a rifle. She picked it up and looked at it.

"I'm not going to pursue this," the lieutenant said. "The attention it would bring to Hampton isn't the kind of publicity our town needs. The likelihood that we'd be able to find the person is doubtful, and over a horse, well I'm not going to vigorously pursue the issue. I will quietly look into the matter by checking backgrounds of owners at the event and any criminal associations. I'll check fire arm registrations for rifles and I'll make sure there's police present at every event. But I have to think that the person that did this isn't stupid enough to try again.

"I plan on looking into this myself lieutenant, I understand your reluctance to not want this to be more public, you've probably been contacted by the city council, the tourist commission, the retail sales society, and God knows who else, but I'm not going to let this go."

"You can keep the slug," he said. "I hope you find what you're looking for. The son of a bitch that shot your horse could have killed someone, and thank God he was a good shot. I keep asking myself why there was no report, no sound of a rifle shot. Whoever was responsible for this was a long way from his target or was using a suppressed rifle."

"Thank you Lieutenant, I understand your predicament. If there's anything you find out in your research please let me know, you have all my contact information."

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next morning Faxon wore long-johns under his jeans, and two pairs of thick white socks, he laced up his boots. He wore a thick flannel shirt and put on his long, black, full length Pea-coat. He wore his Red Socks ball cap, sun glasses, and stuffed his gloves in his right coat pocket.

Outside it was in the low thirties, Faxon drove the Jeep, it had canvas doors and top and no heater, but the Jeeps four wheel drive and military tread was suited for the snow and ice covered roads. Faxon had gotten up early to wait outside Jason Frisch's home so he could follow him to work. He poured coffee into the plastic top of the thermos that he'd brought with him, and then sipped the black hot liquid as he waited.

His wife Susan Frisch came out of the house with her two daughters tagging along behind, they got in her mini-van and drove away from the house. From his research he was sure she was dropping them off at school before going to work at Briggs and Briggs law offices.

It took another thirty minutes and another cup of coffee before Jason Frisch came out of the house, he was dressed in a nice suit and long wool coat, scarf, and Fedora hat carrying a brief case, he got in his black BMW and drove away. Faxon started the Jeep and followed at an undetected distance. Frisch parked in the building parking garage and went to his office. Faxon parked on the street, feed the meter, and walked in through the front doors. A receptionist greeted him.

"Can I help you today Sir?"

Faxon took off the ball cap and gloves, "I hope so, I'm looking for an accountant."

"Have you ever been a client of Clark and Beck Sir?"

"No, no, and I'm not sure how all this works I've just started my own business I'll be a 1099, so I think I need some help with incorporating and quarterly tax's."

"Well that's simple accounting Sir we usually handle corporate tax's, but let me see if one of our junior associates will talk to you."

The receptionist walked down the hall she was an attractive young lady and she turned once before she got to the associates door to see if he was watching her, he was, she smiled.

When she came back she walked around the desk and stood close.

"I'm sorry Sir unless your business is in excess of one million dollars a year I'm afraid the firm is just not going to be able to help you."

"Well I'm very disappointed," Faxon said. "I've heard so much about Clark and Beck. I have to admit you're a very attractive young woman, I'm not a very forward guy, but would you like to have a drink sometime?"

"I get off at five, but I don't really know you so how about we meet somewhere?"

"I know the perfect place, how about Ned Devine's?"

"I know the place, say about 7:00," she asked?"

"Perfect, you'll find me sitting at the bar."

"My names Amanda, maybe I can give you some advice about your accounting."

From Clark and Beck he drove to the law firm of Briggs and Briggs and waited outside. At lunch time he saw Susan Frisch walk out the front doors of the building and go three doors down to a café called Ophelia's. Faxon followed her in and sat at the table next to hers, and a waitress brought them both water and said she'd be right back.

"Hi, are you alone," he asked?

"Well, yes I'm just on lunch from my job."

"Me too, my names Faxon, seems our waitress is going to serve both of us would you like some company? I'm not a stalker or anything I just thought it'd be nice to have lunch and conversation with a pretty girl is all."

"Well sure, but it's been a while since I've been called a girl, my names Susan."

She smiled, and he could have sworn he saw her blush. Susan Frisch was an attractive woman, shoulder length hair and blue eyes, fair complexion. She dressed conservatively not showing any cleavage and her blue dress was mid-thigh.

"Boy I hope it warms soon," Faxon said. "Before you know it spring training will be over and I can start going to see the Red Socks games."

"It figures, is every good looking guy in Boston a baseball fan?"

Faxon laughed, "I take it your husband's a fan. I noticed the ring."

"He's a fan-addict. I may as well be single, especially during baseball season."

"He's an idiot, he should include you."

"I don't know what it is with men, he was so attentive a few years ago, I think all men are alike, they want you and then after two kids they want someone else," she said.

The waitress took their order, Susan Frisch ordered a soda, and a club sandwich with fries, Faxon ordered a beer and a burger, rare.

"I'm sure your husband loves you, if he didn't you wouldn't be with him. There's a lot of divorced women out there, believe me I know. Their nearly all the same, not trusting because they've been burned before by a cheating husband."

They waited on their lunch.

"So have you've ever dated a married woman?"

"No, I have enough problems without some crazy husband coming after me."

"I think my husband's having an affair. I don't know why I'm telling you that, I guess since you said you don't date married women I feel more relaxed. I know it's typical for a couples desire to slow after a few years together. But there's been times when I thought I've smelled someone else, and well thought he'd been with another woman."

"I can't believe you said that, I had a divorced woman tell me just recently that men are careful not to get lipstick on them and having the other woman to not wear perfume, but she said she could smell when he'd been with another woman. Damn women are like bloodhounds."

They both laughed, and the waitress brought their meals. "Anything else I can get you?"

"I'll have another beer please and the waitress walked away. So what do you think you're going to do Susan?" Faxon took a bite of his burger. "You know about your husband?"

Susan took a small bite out of half of the club sandwich. "I don't know, we have two girls, their young, they need their father. When he's around he's a good dad. Maybe I should have an affair?"

She smiled at him before taking another bite.

"It'd be better if he quit fooling around and paid more attention to you wouldn't it?"

"I don't know you're pretty handsome, and looks like you've got a great body, can't I have both, isn't that what men want?"

"Maybe, but I'm not that type of guy Susan."

They finished their sandwiches and the waitress came back to the table with the check. Faxon picked it up, "I got this."

"Susan reached across the table and put her hand on his, "are you sure?"

He knew she wasn't talking about the check.

"Would your husband be upset if you told him you wanted a divorce? You said he was a good father. Would he be upset if he couldn't see his girls?"

"It'd kill him, I couldn't do that," Susan said.

"Would you threaten it to make him a better husband?"

"I don't know. Will you have lunch with me again?"

"Sure, and I have a feeling that everything's going to work out for you and your little family, your husband just needs to be reminded how lucky he is to have such a wonderful girl."

Susan leaned over and kissed Faxon's cheek before walking back to work, Faxon walked the other way toward the Jeep and then drove back to Clark and Beck Accounting and waited until John Frisch got off work. Then he followed him to 82a Lansdowne Street. The Bleacher Bar, he watched him go in.

Faxon walked into the bar and sat down, he ordered a beer. Jason Frisch sat near him watching the sports channel. After his third beer Jason got up and walked to the men's room, Faxon dropped a small capsule in his beer then finished his and walked out. He parked along the curb near the door and waited for John to stagger out.

"Hey friend you really look wasted, let me give you a hand."

He took his keys and opened his car door and sat him in the driver's seat. Faxon called the police and waited a few minutes then started the car put it in drive and shut the door. The BMW slowly moved forward and ran into a parked car down the street just as the patrol car pulled up.

Faxon watched as the officer helped Jason Frisch out of his car and into the back of the patrol car. In a little while a wrecker pulled up and towed his car and the officer took Jason to holding. It took till the next morning before he woke and found out he had been charged with a DUI and his car impounded. He called his wife worried that he hadn't come home last night, she took the girls to school and then went to the bondsman's office and Jason got out. Still fuzzy about what had happened.

He got a lawyer, and a court date was set, it was two days later when he got out of work and walked to his rental car, the BMW still hadn't been repaired. As he approached the car in the parking garage he noticed a man leaning against his driver's door.

"Can I help you," Jason asked?

"You've had the most unfortunate few days Jason. I found it necessary to get your attention, your really are a piece of work. You've cheated on your wife, a good woman, and then you've stalked the prostitute you were paying for sex and harassed her clients," Faxon said.

"You son of a bitch," he swung at Faxon. He easily ducked the punch and hit him in the side. Jason doubled over and dropped his briefcase fighting to catch his breath.

"You're out of your league here, you brought this on yourself Jason, and you think you have problems now? You ever contact Barbie again and I'll make your life is a living hell. If I could set you up like I did think about what I could do if I really wanted to. One more thing if I ever even hear that you've cheated on your wife again, well you know."

Jason Frisch was still on his hands and knees, as Faxon walked away, another job done. Barbie paid him a thousand dollars, not even half what he would have charged for a job that complicated. She had agreed to free haircuts for a year and advice about women if he wanted it.

Two days later he waited until he saw Susan Frisch come out of her office and walk to Ophelia's Café. He got out and followed her in, and she stood as soon as soon as she saw him. She hugged his neck and kissed his cheek, and then they sat down.

"I was hoping to see you again."

They had lunch and talked, Susan told him about her husband's unfortunate accident and how much money it had cost him in court fees, lawyer fees, and fines. She related that he had been more attentive to her and the girls they were looking forward to a trip to Disney World soon. She kissed his cheek when their lunch was over and he promised to see her again.

Faxon sat at the bar that evening waiting on Amanda the receptionist from Clark and Beck, it was their second date and he'd promised to take her to the park to see an open air play, then dinner. After she came in they had a drink at the bar, but just before leaving his cell phone rang.

"Faxon, James Cullen here, I have something for you. You asked if I ran into anything about the Marine Group to let you know."

"Don't tell me another related murder?"

"No, how about a murder that hasn't happened yet," James asked?

"Ok, you've got my attention. I don't suppose there's a paying client for me is there?"

There's a building on Medford St. its zoned commercial, the owner is a man named Parker Doss. He hasn't made any money on it in years but he's owned it for a long time. One of his best friends died about a year ago in a bad car crash, with a drunk driver. This guy owned a construction company and I hear they made an unofficial agreement to get the property rezoned and tear down the old building, then build a residential building. Well the old man has refused to sell to anyone with the intention of having the friend's daughter that took over her father's business help him with the rezoning and construction. Here's the rub, I have a friend in the zoning department and he said The Marine Group is making an offer on the building with the stipulation that the rezoning goes through for residential. He said they have a lot of pull with someone and it's likely to go through, depending on the sale of the property. I smell a suicide coming. The old man's daughter wants him to sell."

Faxon said goodbye. "I promise Amanda, no more calls. It was a reporter friend of mine. He works for the Boston Herald, he thinks someone's going to commit suicide, or be murdered."

"You know when you told me you were a private detective I thought it was just chasing cheating husbands around, not murder."

After the play and dinner he took her home, she kissed him at the door, after explaining the three date rule.

Back to the bar he sat on the end stool and William got him his favorite beer. Not ten minutes later Amy Lindsey, AKA stalker bitch, walked up and sat beside him.

"She's pretty, too bad you struck out. You know if you need someone to help you with your needs I already know what you like and I'm certainly willing."

"Damn, you followed us? How long is it going to be before you move on to stalking someone else? I'll never sleep with you again Amy, there's nothing you could do to make me want to be with you."

"Damn-it Faxon I got my nose done for you," she was raising her voice, "I lost weight for you, I got a boob job for you, you ungrateful son of a bitch, you'll never find anyone to love you more than me."

William had already called the police.

"What about our two kids?"

"You're crazy, we don't have any kids," Faxon said.

"We'd have two if you'd just screw me, come on Faxon you know you want to, we've done it before, and you loved it."

Two officers came in and escorted her out of the bar. Everyone was looking at Faxon. Three different waitresses came up to him saying they'd tell their customers the woman is disturbed.

"You know Faxon the owner said if this continued he'd make you find another place to live," William said.

"I think I'm gonna have to find another way to take care of this, maybe see if I can put pressure on her family, she may have a sister or parent's that knows she's disturbed. Listen don't tell the boss yet, give me a few days to see if I can have the crazy bitch instituted or something."

The next day Faxon called his friend Lew Kirin, the hacker, he had him do a personal background check on Amy Lindsey. He had taken photos of her cheating husband over a year ago, so he had his name, and their address. That had been where he had slept with her the only time, it was after her divorce and she had asked him to come by and have dinner. He had too much to drink and after all she was an attractive woman. After, what he thought would be a one night stand, became a constant stalking, bizarre scenes at the bar leading to her second arrest now.

It didn't take Lew long to give him what he needed, Amy had quit her job after the divorce, she still lived in the same house in a nice community outside of town. She had a sister that was married and lived in the same community, and a brother that wasn't married and lived in an apartment in the Boston city limits. Faxon drove to the sister's house outside of town first hoping she was a stay at home mom.

He knocked on the door instead of using the door chime and after a moment an attractive woman opened.

"Oh my God, Faxon Bennett, please come in. My sister talks about you all the time. I've asked her a hundred times for the two of you to come to dinner."

Amy's sister was under the impression that they lived together and that he was busy all the time was the excuse for him not being around. It took thirty minutes for him to explain what had happened from her sister's divorce to the incident the day before.

"I'm so shocked, I'm not sure what I can do Mr. Bennett my sister has always been strong willed, I'll take your advice and look into the family care act to get her some professional help."

"I'm afraid that if the family won't step in Amy will end up in jail."

By the time Faxon got back to town he went by the brother's house, he found the building and the condo on the third floor and rang the bell. An obviously gay man came to the door.

"Can I help you sweetheart?"

"Do you have a Sister named Amy Lindsey?"

"Sure, what's that crazy bitch done now?"

Faxon was invited in and again had to explain the situation to the brother, it seemed she had a similar experience with a man before she married.

"I should have recognized you darling, Amy has your pictures all over her house, she's quiet obsessed."

"I think if you and your sister would file a petition under the family care act you could get her the help she needs, they'll keep her for thirty days then evaluate her stability. Look I think it would keep her out of jail."

"I promise Faxon sweetheart, I'll get together with my sister and we'll have Amy institutionalized, I'm so sorry I had no idea she had been causing you so much trouble."

Faxon felt a lot better about his meeting with Amy's brother and sister, he was sure there may not be another incident at Ned Devan's now. He stayed in his room that evening and most of the next day. He got a call from Amanda but turned down an opportunity to see her that evening. At 8:00 pm he went to the bar and ordered dinner and a beer. He found himself constantly checking the room for the stalker bitch. His cell phone rang and he hoped it was a job even a cheating husband right now would take his mind off a possible confrontation with Amy Lindsey.

"Bennett, Detective Walker here, I'm down on Park Street, James Cullen's down here and he thought I should call you. He said he told you there was going to be an incident with a man named Parker Doss."

"Don't tell me he committed suicide?"

"Nothing as obvious as that, he was shot in the head, come on down and I'll fill you in."

Faxon drove to Park Street as fast as he could. He had to park down the road from the scene, and was met by James Cullen. He was there to get the story for his crime article.

"I told you this was going to happen, although I thought they'd use a little more finesse than they did."

"It's proving it James, and they believe they can't be implicated in this," Faxon said. "Let's go see John."

They got his attention and he let them come over closer to the scene. "Messed him up pretty good," the Detective said, he pulled back the sheet that covered the top half of the man's body and the back of his head was gone.

"Rifle wound, I dug the slug out of the wall over there about a foot off the ground. If he was standing here then the shooter must have been in that building."

The Detective pointed to a building at least five hundred yards away.

"Damn good shot," Faxon said. "Can you tell what kind of rifle by the slug?"

"Too damaged, I'll have the guys at the lab see if they can identify it. Any guesses?"

"Yea, military, an M40, when are you going to check the shooter's building?"

"I have to wait till the coroner takes the body. Ya, you can come with me, but it's likely the guys a pro and picked up his brass and probably left no evidence," Detective Walker said.

The most obvious building was a well know elite hotel building, John and Faxon went to the front desk, and James tagged along to see if there was any more to the story even though he knew there was only so much he could put in his article. A hotel security man went with them to the unoccupied rooms on the floors that could possibly be used for the shot but it became obvious that the easiest thing for the shooter to do was go up to the roof.

The four of them rode the elevator up, the only access was through a locked door and with a flashlight John examined it before the guard used his key.

"Yea, it's been picked," John said.

The guard opened the door and they walked out onto the roof. "If you find anything don't touch it, we may be able to get finger prints."

They all walked over to the low knee wall and looked out and down at the spot where Parker Doss had been shot. John was right there were no empty ejected shells from a rifle, if there had been the shooter picked it up. Faxon noticed two small marks on top of the wall and determined they were from a stand that steadied the rifle. With the flashlight John noticed two places on the rooftop where the dirt was gone, he suspected the shooter knelt, and then to the right of the mark on top of the wall was a faint print where the man put his hand down before aiming and taking the shot.

"Ok this is it, he shot from here, wow look how far that is, I'm not an expert or anything but wouldn't that make this guy one hell of a marksman," James said.

"You do know you can't put any of this in your article, right," John said. "Certain information has to be kept confidential."

"Yea, yea, I'm just saying, look how far that is away, what the hell?"

"We get it James," Faxon said. "John, I'll bet that when you get the report on that slug it's from a Remington. And the guy that made this shot is probably one of maybe three or four ex-military snipers on the whole east coast that could make that shot."

"So you're a private detective and a psychic too."

"Damn John, The Marine Company, the three guys at the docks, the tattoos, the freighter Desert Sun. Ex-marines privately hired as security to a Saudi that's listed as CEO of the Marine group, possibly money laundering that's financing the purchase of real estate, and the murder of anyone that refuses to sell."

"And we can't prove a damn thing," the detective said.

"Shit this is huge," James said.

"There's got to be someone else behind this, the Saudi, Kasam Rashid Kolmani, he's not running all these ex-military guys, someone has control over them, someone that could convince them to commit murder."

* * *

The next day around noon Faxon got a call from John and confirmed that the bullet was shot from a Remington, a round used by the military in an M40a modified sniper rifle, accurate up to 900 meters. John was going to quietly check gun registrations but Faxon told him that wouldn't do any good. Whoever was behind this had cover maybe from the top levels of the military.

Faxon called Lew Kirin, "Lew I've got another job for you, I need you to research records for a Marine Seal sniper with the most credited kills living on the East coast."

CHAPTER EIGHT

Harper had been working out in the gym every morning, recommitted to her physical condition. After that she went to the local self-defense class, where an old friend of her fathers that had originally taught her Karate worked her out, she was also expert with staff and knife.

Next was a daily stop at the gun range where she shot expert round after round with her Walther PPK 9mm, It was a gun her father carried with him all the time. It was small and slim, easy to conceal and shoot.

Today she went to the office, and her first stop was the front desk to talk to Kate. She had stayed out of work for a week because of her arm, the compound fracture of the radius was healing well, and her fiberglass cast wasn't too obstructive.

"Harper I can ride, I mean if you still would like me to come with you I could work out and show you this won't stop me from competing." She knocked on the cast. "That is if you trust me?"

"Maybe next event Kate, there's the Lake Placid Horse Show, coming up and that'd give you enough time to work out with Brave. You've seen him he's the 10yr old chestnut Warmblood gelding. That is if you don't mind riding hunter class again?"

"I don't mind at all, I know it was a pretty bad experience Harper, but I don't see you as the kind of person that would let the son of a bitch, whoever it was that killed Tao, make you give up. And I don't want to be that person either, my father doesn't want me to compete again but I'm not a quitter."

"I'm not going to stop competing Kate, and if you want to literally get back up on that horse then I'm not the one that's going to stop you."

Harper had scheduled a meeting with Sam Shepard, the General Manager of the Company. She carried the tube with the blueprints her father had made down the hall to his office. Robert wasn't there today, he was in the city looking at recently purchased commercial building that a major company was going to take down and build it was being rezoned residential. The door was open and Sam stood up and hugged her.

"Hey, Danger, what you up to today," said Sam. It was what her father sometimes called Harper. It nearly made her cry.

"Thanks for taking the time to meet with me Sam. I haven't been called Danger since, well since dad. I wanted to show you something I found at the house."

"Harper, you can talk to me anytime you want to. I miss your dad. Ok, show me what you got there?

Harper spread the blue prints out on Sam's desk, and she gave him time to look them over before they talked.

"Wow, this is some project, great design, I'm going to guess that this was Clayton's idea of building on that downtown property?"

"I found it in his office when I cleaned it out. It was behind some books on one of the shelves. The Lewis Center, how am I supposed to ignore this?"

"Listen Harper when you and Robert were arguing last week, I wanted to come in there and tell him to shut the hell up. Then I thought he had a point when he said Clayton didn't have any plans for the property. Robert's done a pretty good job since your dad died, he's gotten a lot of projects, with your help, believe me that hasn't gone unnoticed. We're being pushed to the very limits of our capabilities the company has never been so productive. But to take on a project this big would take all our assets, we'd have to stop everything we're doing, and then there's the money?"

"It's right here Sam, if we can get permitted we can pre-sell the condo units to finance the project, hell The Tromp Group does that all the time."

"Harper even if we had the funds, and that would mean getting the permitting pre-approved, we don't have the men or the equipment, that's a cost that wasn't figured into the estimate of the construction."

"I tell you what Sam, I'll talk to the city building council about the permitting and a lawyer about the pre-selling of the Condos and you write me up a proposal on how much equipment and labor we'd need to do the job. The cranes can be leased, so that leaves the concrete pumps for the lower floors and a lot of men."

"I know better than to fight with you over this Harper. If that's what you want I'll try to find the men to do the job, hell there's guys' dying to work for Lewis Construction especially if I tell'em Clayton's daughter will run the project."

"You and me, Sam, we'll be in charge of this project, Robert won't have anything to do with this. I won't keep him from contracting as much as the company can handle, but this project is all you and me Sam."

A week later was the Devon Horse show in Devon Pa. Richard didn't go, it was just Jose' and Harper, they drove to Devon the day before and that gave her the opportunity to hire six off duty police officers to come to the event. They were dressed in plain clothes, and after Harper had explained what had happened at the Hampton show three of the off duty officers checked the surrounding area for all the vantage points where a possible shot could be taken. The other three walked through the crowds and parked trailers for any signs of a potential shooter.

Walter Keys, her trainer, tried over and over to get Harper to forget the event he said that her life wasn't worth the reward of showing and being the best. He was convinced that the shot was meant for her and that the slight hesitation of Tao was just enough to cause the bullet to hit the horse and not Kate. He thought because the announcer had mistakenly announced she was the rider someone had taken the opportunity to try and kill her and only chance circumstances had saved Kate's life.

If that was true, it might not be someone at the event that wanted her dead, and weather she competed or not that wasn't going to stop whoever it was from trying to kill her again. She had tried to prepare herself for an assassin, Walter's warning hadn't gone without notice, she had her training, and she had remembered what her father had taught her. No she wouldn't go like a lamb to slaughter, she'd find out what this was about, already she was having a private lab analyze the bullet that had killed Tao. Harper decided she wouldn't sit back and wait she'd live her life and dare them to come for her.

The event went as planned, Harper won the jumper round with her fearless horse Neck Rider, and not one fault of hesitation the loyal horse cleared every fence and hedge. She received a standing ovation from the crowd. There were no incidents or reports of anyone with a gun or rifle.

The next day at home she discussed her experience at the event with Richard, he seemed distant and unconcerned. Harper attributed it to the knowledge that Sam was putting together an estimate of labor and equipment for the downtown Boston project.

The next day Harper dressed in her best conservative dress and went into the city, she had a meeting scheduled with the permit approval committee and the city council members. Her lawyer went with her, he had been in the service with her father and she even called him Uncle Walter.

When they filled out all the paperwork at the permit department their meeting with the approval committee was unanimous. All of the members had known Harper's father and had heard him talk about his wishes for the downtown family property.

At city hall the council room was nearly full, to Harper and her lawyer's surprise there was a lot of local opposition to the project, despite the city council's positive discussion and praise for Clayton Lewis and his philanthropy in the community. However when the chairman questioned whether or not the attendant's in the room actually lived in the city limits no one came forward. Apparently someone was stacking the deck against Lewis Construction but the calculated demonstration didn't work.

However the vote of the city council was much closer than Harper expected. The issue was settled in her favor by only one vote, another sign that someone had paid to see the issue voted down. But to no avail on this day, the permits were granted and the city council had voted their approval regardless of being voted through by only one vote. Harper could draft the legal documents to begin the preselling of the condo units and raise the needed funds to go forward with her father's project, The Lewis Center.

At home Richard never asked how her day went and Harper didn't explain. They continued to get farther apart emotionally.

On Saturday Harper was up early and to her surprise Kate was at the stables waiting for her. She had made coffee and poured a cup for Harper and Jose' when they came in, Kate was excited about the event. They loaded the tack and saddles, Kate hung her clothes in the trailer, and soon they were on their way to the Lake Placid Horse Show.

Six off duty New York policemen met them at the gate, all dressed in off duty attire, but they were all armed. Kate hadn't expected the officers but felt more relaxed that they were there. Harpers explained about the Hampton show the men checked the event grounds and surrounding area. All the officers communicated with cell phones at appointed times, they checked the parking area and the stands and around the course. Harper was confident that there'd be no incidents.

The hunter class went first and Kate drew an eighth position, they got to watch the other riders and the complicated course didn't go without every contestant having a problem with at least one of the barriers. Soon it was Kate's turn.

"Brave's not as young as Tao, Kate," Harper said. "He won't hesitate so give him his head, don't hold him back. Even though this is not a timed event he'll want to attack the jumps, so let him go. Remember it doesn't matter how you do, just show these ass holes you're not afraid, Brave will do the rest."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Walter said.

Kate got the start sign and she circled Brave once then approached the first fence and he went over it with ease, and all Kate's nervousness went away. Barrier after barrier Brave looked like the champion he was. A flawless round and a standing ovation for the brave girl that had come back from a broken arm and a horse dying under her, Kate had never been so euphoric.

Harper and Neck Rider drew the last position of the jumper class. The crowd was anxious after the other participants, Harper had dominated three prior events and that had attracted a lot of attention. Two of the previous riders had set personal best times.

She stood in front of Neck Rider and put her forehead against the horses bowed head, eyes closed as if they both prayed. Harper full of energy vaulted up onto the saddle without a boost up, something none of the other participants were capable of. Neck Rider threw his head back and down and raised his front feet and stomped the ground as the start sounded. Harper made a clicking sound and Neck Rider trotted toward the first fence. All she had to do was hang on, she reached down and patted his neck in-between barriers once and that seem to excite the horse even more.

The event was over, and Neck Rider had shattered the record time for a jumping event. Onlookers and jumper enthusiast knew they had witnessed something special. Offers to buy the fearless horse came one after another as Harper made her way back to her trailer. Walter Keys was offered a fortune to come and serve as top trainer at numerous stables. Kate also got offers to ride owner's mounts in upcoming events.

Jose' took care of the horses as spectators stood near and had their pictures taken with the amazing animal, they would say, "see I was there that day."

The award ceremony was chaotic, photos, congratulations from event coordinators, and the presentation of the large silver cup with the record time already etched into its surface. Reporters from equestrian magazines, domestic and European all requesting interviews, a photographer showed the images of the day that he said would be published around the world. The image was Harper and Neck Rider forehead to forehead, the next was her leaping to the back of her fearless friend.

Nearly every late night news television station reported the event, and even though horse events rarely made the news the images of Harper and Neck Rider were very popular. They showed them head to head, her leaping to the saddle, and several images of them both going over fences with Harper leaning forward over the strong horse's neck.

After the day was done and Harper had gotten home and taken a shower, Robert never once asked how her event had turned out. Instead he talked about the two new contracts he had gotten and explained how busy the company was going to be.

Harper stayed in bed the next morning until Robert had gotten up and gone to the office. She dressed in Jeans, a t-shirt, boots, and a black leather bombers jacket. It was cool but not cold, winter was finally giving way to spring.

She drove to the ballistics lab of the local police department. Her visit had been authorized by Jerry Matson the officer that had showed up at her house to inform her about her parents the night of their unfortunate head on accident. Harper got out of her truck and walked up to the door, Jerry met her just inside.

"Good morning Mrs. Lewis, it's good to see you again. A lot has changed in a little over a year. I saw you got married, and who could have missed all those pictures of you and your horse all over the news."

"Please, officer Matson just call me Harper. Ya a lot has changed, I'm not so sure for the better. I'm not the kind of person that craves publicity."

"I'm Lieutenant Matson now. I passed the Lieutenant exam and just got promoted, but please just call me Jerry. As much effort as it took for you to accomplish such an achievement in the equestrian world I'd think you'd welcome the attention," he said.

"I don't do it for the attention Jerry I compete because like everything else I do I was brought up that way. To do everything with conviction, be the best you can be, that's why I do what I do Jerry, I don't give a shit about the attention, it's the competition.

"Ok, so there's something you need our help with?"

"I do," Harper took out the spent bullet from her pocket, "I was at the Hampton Horse Show and someone shot and killed one of my horses. A friend of mine was ridding the horse and when she fell she suffered a compound fracture. The local Hampton police department looked into the matter but covered up the fact that the horse was shot instead of the believed cause that the horse had a massive aneurism. It seems they thought it more advantageous to avoid bad publicity than find out who killed a horse. However, I place more value in my horse than I do most people."

"So you want us to look at the bullet and tell you anything that might help in locating the perpetrator?"

"Yea Jerry, I'd be glad to pay."

"Don't worry about it, I'm with you, I like horses more than most people too, but I do find they have one thing in common, they're mostly both horses' asses."

After the technicians expert analyses they stood in the lab and talked privately.

"It came from a Remington rifle. The military uses a modified version, an M40a series, it's a sniper rifle. The technician said this round was shot from a long distance, must have been a hell of a shot."

Harper went back to the house. She was making lunch when Aunt Rachel came in with a travel brochure. Harper put two slices of sourdough bread in the toaster for a tuna salad sandwich.

"I'll have one of those," Rachel said, "and a beer."

"What you got there," Harper asked?

"It's a singles cruise on one of those super liners out of Miami, look at the size of this thing? Four swimming pools, night clubs, all you can eat, four points of call and a private island."

"I think it's a great idea Rachel."

She made then both a sandwich and poured some barbeque potato chips out on their plates and opened a couple beers. Rachel read the brochure about the cruse and Harper flipped through the Boston Herald and finally came across the crime article by James Cullen.

The article was about the death of an older man named Parker Doss, a wealthy Boston man from an old family that owned some commercial property. It listed one of them as a multi-storied building on Medford Street. The article went on to say Mr. Doss had refused to sell the building to an international company, (the article didn't name it). It finished reporting Mr. Doss was shot with a high powered rifle from at least four hundred meters away, possibly the rooftop of a hotel building.

After Aunt Rachel left to go plan what she would take on her cruise, Harper picked up her cell phone and called the Boston Herald.

"I'd like to speak with James Cullen please."

"I'll page him Ma'am, I'm not sure he's in the office?"

After several minutes, "James Cullen here," he said.

"Mr. Cullen, I was calling about your article in the Herald. Do you happen to know what type of rifle it was that killed Mr. Doss?"

"I'm afraid that's one of the things the local police investigating the death keep's to themselves. Who am I speaking with?"

"Just an interested citizen, do you know who the company was that made the offer to purchase the property from Mr. Doss?"

"I do, but using that information in my article would expose the paper to a possible law suit. If you want any more information you'll have to tell me who I'm talking to and make an appointment for a personal meeting, I have the feeling you know more than you're saying."

"I'll be right there Mr. Cullen."

Harper didn't change clothes, she did braid her hair and put on a Red Socks ball cap, with a pair of sunglasses there was a chance someone would recognize her from television video about the horse show. Thirty five minutes later she pulled into the Boston Herald parking garage and stopped at the front desk and asked where James Cullen's office was. Down the hall she stopped at the fifth door on the right, the sign on the door said crime reporter, James Cullen. She didn't knock and when she opened the door James was startled.

"Crap, you could have knocked, let me guess you're the concerned citizen."

She sat in the straight back chair in the corner and didn't take her sunglasses off.

"Yea go ahead have a seat," James sarcastically said.

"So what's the address of the building that Mr. Doss owned," Harper asked, barley giving him time to sit back down.

"This is how it's gonna work," James said. "You have to give me something if I give you something."

"What's the address of the building Mr. Doss wouldn't sell," Harper asked again?

"It's on Medford Street, near gateway shopping center. Say, are you a private detective?"

"No, what's the company's name that made the offer to buy?"

"Hey that wasn't my question, what's your connection to the case?"

"Are you new at this, you asked a question, and I answered it. What's the company's name that made the offer?"

"Ok, we'll start again. It's an international company with lots of connections in the United States, the CEO is listed as a Saudi national, the name of the company however is The Marine Group."

Even with sunglasses on Harper couldn't hide the shock on her face. It was the same company that had made the offer to buy her family property on Mass. Ave. and Dalton Street.

"I hit a nerve, that's obvious. My turn, what's your connection to the Doss murder and his property?"

Harper was quiet for a moment, thinking about how to answer and still not give too much away.

"The same group offered to buy another property in the city limits that's undeveloped. Let's just say I know them."

"Was Mr. Doss killed by a rifle shot?"

Now it was James turn to look shocked. This girl knew more than she wanted to say and it was becoming more obvious she was putting together a story in her head and he was being left out.

"Yes, and it was a hell of a shot, had to have been a trained sniper, a pro, I have a friend that was there the night Mr. Doss died, he has some experience you might say. We stood where the shooter took the shot. He said there's not three people on the East coast that could make a shot like that."

Harper's face must have turned white. She thought she was going to be sick. Just the thought that whoever had killed Tao was trying to kill her. It had been Harper's name that was mistakenly given as the rider. Kate could have been killed if not for Tao's hesitation.

"Listen let's stop this dance, I can obviously see your upset. Tell me what's going on with you, and my friend can help."

Harper got up slowly and moved to the door to leave.

"Listen if you know someone that has a piece of property that this Marine Group has made an offer on and they've refused. Their life is in danger, but by what I've seen, you already know that. Let me help you."

"What's the Detective's name that's working the Doss case Mr. Cullen?"

"You're either the most stubborn woman I've ever known or the stupidest. His name's Detective John Walker."

Harper left the paper with the reporter trying to convince her to listen to reason. She drove her truck to the Boston Police Department, the desk Sargent called John's office and he told the Sargent to send her on.

"Good afternoon please have a seat, my names Detective John Walker."

Harper wasn't going to get to play any games with the detective.

"My names Harper Lewis detective, I came to see you today because of the article in the Boston Herald. When I read that Mr. Doss was shot with a rifle it reminded me of my own situation."

"Maybe if you can explain I'll try to help you Mrs. Lewis."

Harper explained what happened at the Hampton Horse Show, and that she had turned down the offer to purchase the property in the Boston city limits. She did explain that her permitting had been approved and the city council had voted to let her proceed with the pre-selling of the condos as a means to finance the project. The Detective warned her that was no reason to believe there wouldn't be another attempt on her life. Detective Walker did confirm that the rifle used to kill Mr. Doss was a Remington, possibly a modified M40a series.

The next two days were pleasant. Robert was more than nice to her. He was more excited about his work, Harper felt so comfortable with him they talked about the Lewis Center project and her getting the permits and city council approval to begin with the pre-selling. Robert seemed excited about her success, enough so much that he offered to help, using his influence to encourage clients to purchase as an investment with the anticipation that the units would double in price.

Later Harper drove Aunt Rachel to the airport for her flight to Miami.

"You've got plenty of cash, and a credit card, so don't worry about spending whatever you want," Harper said. "And meet some nice guy and jump him."

"Oh you are so right about that girl, a ship load of single men I'm bound to get lucky at least once. I'm gonna come back with a tan and a smile on my face."

It was Thursday and Robert took Harper out for dinner, they just went to a local Italian restaurant in Littleton.

They sat at their table and Robert reached over and held Harper's hand.

"I have a meeting with a prospective client tomorrow in New York City. I'm doing my presentation in the afternoon then taking them out for dinner in the evening, why don't you come with me?"

"I don't think so Robert, I'll just stay at home."

Harper was concerned about being out in public she'd been recognized several times since the horse show. Once just filling up at the gas station, and then by several people at the grocery store that involved pictures.

"Well I'm going to spend the night, by the time dinners over it'll be too late to drive back home. I tell you what, why don't we go to the club when I get back and we'll play a round of golf. It'll be Saturday, make us an 11:00am t-time, I promise I'll be home by then."

Harper got up early and made breakfast for Robert before he left to drive to New York. She carried his briefcase as they walked to his Bentley, they hugged and kissed.

"I have that t-time for tomorrow at 11:00am just like you told me to, so you better get back here so I can brag about how bad I beat you," Harper said.

"I think golf is the only thing I can beat you at, so don't be too cocky," Robert said. "I love you Harper." They kissed again. "You know Rachel's going on a cruise, made me think we haven't been anywhere since we got married. Let's go away somewhere, Hawaii, Australia, Hong Kong, I don't care just somewhere we can be alone and forget about business."

"I think that's a great idea."

After Robert left Harper put on her ridding clothes and went down to the stables. Kate showed up, she still sported her cast on her forearm but worked out anyway. Her friend Evelyn showed up and they all had a nice day ridding. Harper even got Evelyn on one of her jumpers and she was able to hold on enough to get over a couple of low fences. She was so excited she wanted to do it again.

It was nearly dark by the time they left and Harper hung around the stables to help Jose' brush and curry the horses then give them a can of oats in their stalls. She drove up to the house and went upstairs to the master bedroom and took a shower, after she put on a pair of grey sweat pants, an Aerosmith t-shirt and a pair of socks.

Down in the kitchen she broiled a pork chop made some quick brown rice in the micro-wave and opened a can of asparagus then heated it in a pan on the stove top. She ate sitting at the bar in the kitchen planning on going upstairs and watching television in her room. She walked to the sink, rinsed her plate off then the fork, she was about to wash the steak knife when out of the corner of her eye she saw something moving. When Harper turned to look she saw someone wearing black trousers, a black hoodie zipped up to the top. The hood was up and pulled tight around a face that was covered with a black ski mask. He raised his hands up taking a skip step to kick the door and she noticed he wore black leather gloves and there was a white cord wrapped around his right hand.

The sound from the kick startled her, the door shook but didn't bust in and Harper turned and ran out of the kitchen. Up the stairs to the second floor, down the wide hall, then at the end she turned right to go to the master bedroom and then stopped leaning against the wall listening, she had just realized that all the guns were downstairs in the office. It was too late to go back down, she heard the door jamb break and heavy footsteps walking on the wood floor, it was then she realized she was still holding the steak knife.

Harper crouched down, her knees bent sitting back on her heels she held the knife handle in her right hand so tight her knuckles were white. Her cell phone was beside the bed on the night side table next to the lamp and alarm clock, but by the time she called someone the intruder would be on her. No this is what she had trained for.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, and then heard the footsteps again coming up the stairs, clump, clump, clump, and then the creek of the step third from the top. Then heavy steps down the hall coming toward her and she had made up her mind, she'd only get one shot then run down the hall, shut and lock the door to slow him down, and call 911. The way she was crouched down she could lung and stab him, he wouldn't expect that. Harper trained her eyes on the floor knowing the first thing she'd see was his foot as he started to walk around the corner. Her heart beat in her chest as she listened to the steps get closer, then there he was.

Harper struck quick pushing with her feet driving the knife in to the hilt. She could hear the man scream as she ran toward the bedroom. She slammed the door and locked it behind her and didn't remember picking up the phone, she could still hear the man groaning from down the hall.

"911, what's your emergency," the operator asked?"

"Someone broke into my house, they're going to kill me and their upstairs, please send someone hurry please."

"I have a patrol car near your address ma'am he's on the way. Stay on the line with me, have you been harmed? Do you need an ambulance?"

"I'm fine so far, but I stabbed him, he came in through the side door, he broke in through the kitchen."

The emergency operator relayed that information to the patrolman. Harper listened to the intruder stumble back down the hall then a loud thud as if he fell, then everything was quiet. She heard the sound of a police siren coming toward the house and then two men coming in through the broken door in the kitchen announcing they were police officers. Harper could hear them come up the steps and then the two officers talking then someone knocked on the bedroom door.

"Ma'am this is Officer Smith, you can open the door now."

Harper opened the door, "Did he get away?"

"No ma'am he's still in the upstairs hall," Harper started to walk around him and he stopped her, "I think you should stay here for right now Mrs. what's your name?" He took out a pad of paper and a pen.

"Harper Lewis," she said.

"Are you the only one in the house Mrs. Lewis?" The other officer walked into the bedroom, she was sitting on the end of the bed.

"Is he still in the hall?"

"He is, he's dead, looks like he bled out pretty fast. Is that steak knife laying on the floor yours?"

"It's all I had."

"Well Mrs. Lewis we need you to stay in here for right now, the Lieutenant is on his way, I'm sure he'll have some questions. Is there anyone you need to call?"

"Yea my husband, he's out of town."

Harper called Robert, but got no answer, she called three more times and sent several text messages for him to call her as soon as possible, and that there had been an emergency at the house. She called Sam Shepard, the company's general manager, and longtime family friend.

"Sam, I'm sorry to interrupt your evening, but Robert's out of town and I've had an incident here at the house. Someone tried to kill me," her voice shook.

"Are you ok Harper, were you injured?"

"No Sam, but the son of a bitch that tried to kill me is dead in the upstairs hall."

He could hear the shake in her voice, "I'll be right there."

Harper stayed in her room and could hear more officers entering the house, the coroner showed up about the same time as Lieutenant Jerry Matson.

"Damn Harper, you ok?"

"Just a little shook up, I can't seem to calm down."

"Well I just spoke to the coroner in the hall, he's checked the body. You stabbed him inside the upper thigh, cut the femoral artery and he bled out. The way he had that cord wrapped around his hand, and the way it was knotted he meant to kill you. It's text book strangler."

"I was aiming for his crotch, guess I got lucky."

"Tell me what happened, and this is for the record."

He said it like he wanted to make sure nothing would blame her for the man's death. Just after her story Sam and his wife showed up. She hugged them both and it was the first time that evening she cried on Sam's shoulder. Carol, Sam's wife, sat on the end of the bed with her arm around Harper's shoulders as she explained the story again. After about half an hour Lieutenant Matson came back into the bedroom.

Harper we need you to see if you can recognize the man. He didn't have any identification on him. I'm sure you don't know him, but he might be someone you saw at a horse show, or maybe at the store, maybe someone that was following you?"

"Is that necessary Lieutenant," Sam asked?

"It's ok Sam I want to see the bastard that tried to kill me."

"You sounded just like your father Harper," Carol said.

"He's already in the bag, I'm just gonna unzip it far enough for you to see his face," said the Lieutenant as they walked down the hall out of the bedroom. Sam walked along with Harper.

Most of the blood had flowed toward one wall so they could stand next to the body in the bag and not stand in the blood. Jerry Matson leaned down and unzipped the bag. Sam stood beside Harper his arm around her waist.

"Oh my God," Sam said.

Harper gasped but couldn't say anything.

"Do you recognize him," Jerry Matson asked?

"It's my husband, Robert Mathis."

CHAPTER NINE

Faxon rolled over, his head hurt from too many beers last night and now that tone, what the hell was that tone. It stopped, and in only a moment it started again, it was his cell phone.

"Hello, who the hell is it," then he remembered it could be a customer and he needed the work. His last job a few days ago was helping Barbie and that was practically nothing. "I mean this is Faxon Bennett." He cleared his throat of morning phlegm.

"Damn Faxon, its 11:00 am you're not up yet?"

"No and if I'd known it was you Cullen I'd have let it ring. Did you have to call twice?"

"You're gonna be glad I did. I had a strange visitor yesterday, good looking girl, thought it might be a potential client. It has something to do with our favorite case."

Faxon sat up on the edge of the bed. "What's it about James, you got my attention?"

"She came to see me, had a lot of questions about the Doss murder, she wanted to know the kind of rifle that killed him. And the company that tried to buy his building, you should have seen her face when I told her it was the Marine Group. I thought she was going to puke right there in my office. It was like she knew all the answers already. She did say she knew someone else that had been made an offer by the Marine Group and they turned them down. I told her if that was the case then their life was in danger. With all that said I could swear it was her that turned that offer down, I'd be a shame if she was to get herself murdered Faxon."

"Ok, I'll check into it, what was her name and contact information?"

"Well, she wouldn't tell me, but before she left she did ask who was the detective investigating the Doss Murder. So I think she went to see John Walker."

Faxon got dressed and drove the old Jeep to the Police Station.

"Is Walker in his office," Faxon asked as he walked by the front desk?

"Yea, go ahead, he's there," the desk Sargent said. He didn't bother to call the detective Faxon was becoming a regular around the station.

"Hey John," Faxon sat down in the chair in front of the desk, "I don't suppose you have any coffee in here do ya, I feel terrible, too much beer last night."

"Damn they just let anyone come in unannounced. Coffee's down the hall I thought you'd know that by now. They don't give coffee machines in your office until you're a Lieutenant. Let me guess you talked to Cullen?"

"He called me this morning, told me this story about a good looking girl that came to see him with a lot of questions about the Doss murder. Thing is she wouldn't tell him anything about who she was or why she wanted to know the information. But James thought she was coming to see you."

"She did, and I warned her that she might be in danger."

"Well are you going to tell me what her story was or am I going to have to drag it out of you?"

"She wouldn't tell me everything, but I did some research on my own, you're not the only one with resources. Her names Harper Lewis, her father was Clayton Lewis, owned a construction company, Lewis Construction. He was an important man around town lots of influence. His wife's maiden name was Lindsey Duncan, an old Boston Family. They were both killed in a head on car crash with a drunk driver almost two years ago. Harper's an only child, the old man was a tough son of a bitch he'd as soon kick your ass as look at ya. A navy seal and the word around is his daughter is just like him, but from what I saw she's more super model stuff than tough guy, a real looker. Well she inherited everything and ended up marrying her father's junior partner in the business, but she owns an undeveloped piece of property in the city, and who's made several offers to buy it? The Marine Group, well it seems she's well known in the horse jumping scene and one of her horses was shot at the Hampton Horse Show by a rifle, the Littleton crime lab said it was from a Remington."

"Ok John give me her address and I'll go see her and try to explain that if she doesn't take precautions she's gonna get herself and maybe her husband killed," Faxon said.

"Yea and maybe you could get them to pay you for protection," John said.

"A man's gotta eat."

Faxon went back to his room above the bar at Ned Devine's, he checked the map on his laptop for the location of the address he'd been given. Hwy. 2 North West to I-495 North then right on 119, Great Road, then right on King Street, left on Goldsmith Street South then left on Laurel Road. The address looked like it was all the way at the end.

"Damn out in the middle of nowhere, I'll have to see if Ed will let me take the GTO, at least I can get there fast." His cell phone rang.

"Hello, Faxon Bennett here."

"Faxon sweetheart, it's Terri, Amy Lindsey's brother, you remember the cute guy that you couldn't take your eyes off of."

"You're not going to start stalking me too are you?"

"No darling, but you can come by and see me any time handsome. Listen I got my other sister to sign the papers and their keeping Amy at the state institution for thirty days then they'll review her sanity and decide to keep her for another thirty days. The case worker said that these things sometimes depend on how many people they have committed at the time of the review."

"Good, I hope she gets the help she needs."

"Me too sweetie, when we took her she went crazy, saying she had to go home because she had to fix dinner before you got there. And that she couldn't possibly stay that you wouldn't be able to get along without her, shit she's gone crackers."

"I really hate to hear that Terri but I'm telling you they were about to have her arrested again here at Ned Devine's three times and they'd put her away in the county lock-up. I can tell you for sure that wouldn't turn out good for her."

It was the next day when Faxon drove to Littleton, lots of the area out on Laurel road was large parcels most horse farms with white rail fences and large barns and houses. He got to the end of the road and there were large black iron gates and above them a large arch with black iron letters that said New Castle Farms. Faxon noticed the keypad and microphone then looking around he saw the cameras for the security system. Yea anybody with this much money had to have security. He pushed the page button and waited, after a moment he pushed it again. It was a large house people just didn't run to the intercom system.

"Hello, can you hear me?"

It was a woman's voice and obviously not experienced using the intercom system.

"My names Faxon Bennett, I'm a private investigator I have some information that might interest Mrs. Lewis and her husband." It was quiet for a moment, "it has to do with the death of her horse." Still quiet, "Mrs. Lewis is in danger ma'am."

Then there was a younger woman's voice. "If you're a private investigator then hold your license and identification where I can see it in the camera."

Faxon held up his investigators license and driver's license, "Mrs. Lewis I talked to Detective John Walker and he told me you came to see him."

"I'll let you in Mr. Bennett, but I warn you if you're not who you say you are I'll shoot and kill you without any hesitation."

Harper had already called Detective Walker and by the time Faxon got down the driveway to the house, he was describing what Faxon looked like as she opened the front door.

"He's 6' 2" black hair, blue eyes, in good shape, he has a small scar on his right temple, he thinks too much of himself so he usually has a smirk on his face. Girls say he's good looking but personally I don't see it."

Faxon stood looking at a very attractive tall blond with blue eyes talking on a cell phone. She kept him waiting on the steps, then she smiled, "yea Detective that's a perfect description."

"Did you tell her how smart I am too," Faxon yelled at her phone.

"Oh yea I forgot, he's a smart ass too," John said.

"Thank you Detective."

"I guess I don't need to introduce myself again do I?"

"No Mr. Bennett, this is my friend Carol Shepard, let's go into the kitchen."

Faxon saw her put the phone in her front left jeans pocket and a Walther nine millimeter behind her back pulling her shirt over it.

"We had another problem yesterday. Let's just say it was disturbing. Can I get you something to drink?"

"A beer if you have one."

Harper opened the fridge and handed him a bottle after she took the cap off with her hand, it was the brand he always drank, what a coincidence he thought.

"Mrs. Lewis, I think you're taking this serious by the way you handled me showing up and I know John and my friend James warned you, do you mind me asking what happened?"

"Just call me Harper, I will but you have to be honest with me and promise to give me all the information you have, I'm not in the mood to be fucked with, understand?"

"I understand, I'll tell you everything I know, and you can call me Faxon."

"The night before last, a man wearing all black with a full face ski mask broke through the side door there," Harper pointed to the repaired door, "my husband had gone to New York City for a business meeting and was going to stay the night in the city, and I thought come back the next day. The man had a cord wrapped around his hand, knotted, I found out later that's the way a strangler uses a cord to kill someone. I was washing off my evening dishes when the masked man broke in, and I still had the steak knife in my hand when I ran upstairs. I waited and when the man in the mask stepped around the corner I was squatting down. I stabbed him in the upper leg severing the main artery and he bleed out. It was my husband. He had come home to kill me then was going to drive back to New York to complete the alibi. He had also tried to get me to sell the family property to the Marine Group. I can't help but think he had been involved from the beginning."

"You said you thought he had been involved with someone at this Marine Group from the beginning? Was he a marine?"

"He was, I don't know that much about his service, I know he was only in for six years," Harper said. "My father was a Seal, my husband's father severed with my father, and Robert got him to sell twenty percent of the company. My dad would have never done it for anyone else."

"Your husband had a tattoo on his right shoulder, not so uncommon for marines. I was Special Forces I have a tattoo of the company I was in. A lot of Marines got the same tattoo if they were in the same company. I've seen other guys that were connected with this Marine Group and they all had the same tattoos. If your husband was connected then he had a tattoo of a bad dog with lots of teeth snarling. Above the snarling dog written in cursive was Semper-Fi, below that it would say Hoooo-Rah, and below the dog there'd be USMC."

"He had that exact tattoo. I just had the feeling when he kept trying to get me to take their offer. I just didn't want to believe it. Tell me the rest?"

"The Marine Group list it's CEO as a Saudi national named Kasam Rashid Kolmani, he hires ex-Marines to be private security, but over there there's no telling what they do. I think train radical Islamic solders. The group is associated with an arms company out of Tennessee, and they ship weapons overseas, all approved by government agencies. So they have connections and I'll never believe it's that Saudi pulling the strings. Detective Walker and myself took down a theft ring, the men were steeling semi-trucks and trailers and filling shipping containers with the stolen goods and loading them on a freighter at the inner docks, the ship named the Desert Sun, a Saudi registered freighter owned by the Marine Group."

"They buy properties and overpay for them, I believe it's all laundered money from illegal enterprises, and I don't think their afraid to commit murder to get what they want. So far we can't prove anything or connect anyone to the people at the top."

"They're not getting my property, they don't know who they're fucking with, I'll kill 'em all if I have to," Harper said.

"Calm down," said Carol. "Think this through, nothing is worth dying for."

"There's more," Faxon said. "Your parents, do you know if the man driving the car that hit them had a tattoo?"

"O' shit, no, please don't tell me. Those sons of bitches, do you think they killed my parents? But the guy would have known he was going to die?"

"Those three men in that warehouse knew they were going to die too. Whoever's pulling the strings controls them. And you're not safe here, next time they'll send two, or three, or four, or however many they need to and I know you're tough, but that don't mean shit to them. They'll kill Mrs. Shepard here, or anyone else that gets in their way."

Sam called from the intercom and Harper went to let him through the gate as she thought about what he had said. When Sam came in Carol met her husband at the door and hugged him then they kissed.

"What's going on now," Sam asked?

They went into the kitchen and Harper introduced Faxon.

"Sam I want you and Carol to go home, she'll explain everything," Harper said.

"You can't stay here by yourself."

"I have certain skills, Mr. Shepard," Faxon said. "That and knowledge of how these things work, you're going to have to trust me. There is one thing for sure you and your wife need to stay out of this."

"He's right Sam, go home I'll call you tomorrow, everything will be alright."

After they left Harper went back into the kitchen, Faxon was getting another beer out of the fridge, and looking at an old container of Chinese food.

"Do you think this is still good?"

"Please help yourself. You drop a bomb like my parents may have been murdered. How are we going to find out?"

"Easy enough the coroner's report, they're very detailed, if he had the same tattoo then it'll be in the report."

"I know someone at the Littleton police station, and he'll get the report for me."

"For us," Faxon corrected.

"So it's too late today, I guess you plan on staying here?"

"I'm your protector, at least for right now. I won't start charging you until tomorrow a guy's got to eat."

Faxon found a fork in the top drawer and took a bite of General Cho's chicken from the small white box.

"Do you carry a gun," Harper asked?

"Yea, a thirty eight revolver," he said.

Harper laughed, "Great, my protector carries a thirty eight revolver, now I feel a lot better, come on let me show you something."

Harper took him to the office and moved a wall panel and opened a large gun safe, there was two high powered rifles with scopes, two twelve gauge shotguns, two crossbows, and at least ten different hand guns.

"Take your pick. I know you have skills but it'll make me feel better if I know you're armed to the teeth."

Faxon finished the Chinese food and Harper made a frozen pizza, and they both had a few more beers. Faxon told stories about his investigation business. He told Harper about James and some of his articles, he told her about Mr. Samuels and his supposed suicide, and his sons selling the property to the Marine Group. They talked about Detective Walker and his help not only with the case but with giving him leads for jobs. Faxon told her about living above the bar at Ned Devin's and the owner loaning him cars to drive. He convinced her she'd be safe there.

Harper talked about Jose' and leaving him to take care of the horses and how much she was going to miss them and competing. She told Faxon about the incident at the Hampton Horse Show and Kate breaking her arm. She talked about picking up her Aunt Rachel at the airport too.

They agreed Faxon would take first watch and he'd wake Harper halfway through the night, she finally went upstairs to bed. Faxon walked around the house checking the doors and making sure all the outside lights were on. He looked at pictures around the house of Harper and her father at hunt camp, kneeling beside deer with large racks. Harper riding motorcycles, doing a wheelie, with her father right behind her, trophies and ribbons from horse events, pictures of her on a horse going over impossibly high fences. There were pictures of her in a gee with a black belt squaring off against opponents, a certificate signed by an oriental master listing knives, staph, and sword that she had perfected the use of. Awards from the shooting range, listing her as an expert, who was protecting who, he thought.

Faxon was sitting in the living room watching an old movie when Harper came downstairs. She was barefoot, wearing her grey sweat pants and a t-shirt.

"I thought you were going to wake me?"

"Yea, I guess I just got carried away watching this old movie, John Wayne, they don't make 'em like that anymore."

"Ya, sure, that's why I set my alarm clock. There's a bedroom upstairs, it's got clean sheets, go get some sleep."

Faxon slipped his boots off and laid back on the couch, "I'm ok here."

Not five minutes went by before he was asleep. Harper got up out of the chair and covered him with a light blanket.

In the morning Faxon woke, the smell of bacon and his stomach growled. He scratched his unshaven face and thought about how good that bacon was going to taste. He sat up and put on his boots, stood and stretched and checked his watch. 9:00 am he slept longer than he thought he would, Faxon thought Harper would be in a hurry to go to the police station and see the coroner's report.

"Well finally, good morning, I let you sleep because you did stay up to keep watch. Here," Harper slid a plate across the bar in front of him with lots of bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese and two slices of whole wheat toast, "what do you want to drink, I've got milk, water, and coffee, or there might be a few beers left, you seem to like them, a lot."

"Coffee, please, this looks great, thanks."

"How do you like your coffee?"

"Black," he spoke around a mouthful of eggs and bacon, then picked up the coffee and took a drink, "mm, strong just the way I like it. I don't suppose I could shave before we go to the police station that is if you have a spare razor?"

"You can use some of Roberts stuff, I put everything of his in a box, it's in one of the other bedrooms upstairs, you can take the time to take a shower too if you want."

"You don't mind me using his stuff?"

"The son of a bitch was going to kill me," Harpers voice sounded angry, "I stabbed the mother fucker and killed him, I'm just sorry I couldn't have caused the asshole more pain before he fucking died. Mind you using his shit, really?"

"Ok, ok, ya know it's so weird hearing a girl that looks like you talk like that, Detective Walker said he knew about your father's reputation, said he was a real hard man, I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"How fucking original, if I had an apple every time someone said that, I'd have a shitload of apples, if you're done complementing me, then get ready."

"Ok, I'll go shave, you go pack a bag, and another thing we'll need to stop at your bank so you can make a cash withdrawal, no more using credit or debit cards, they can be traced, and no checks either. Leave your cell phone here too. We'll get you a burner phone."

Faxon took a hot shower and shaved, combed his hair and went downstairs. Harper was in the kitchen, she had a duffle bag. It was the one she used when going to hunt camp. Another long bag contained her guns. She wore a pair of jeans they weren't designer but rather plan. She had on a white t-shirt under a button up the front plain cotton blue shirt with a collar, and a regular pair of tennis shoes.

Harper threw a brush and the elastic scrunches at Faxon. "Could you braid my hair for me?"

"Huh, I don't think I've ever done that before."

"Shit Faxon, you're not a virgin are you? A girl's never asked you to braid her hair? Crap Jose' my stable manager can do it, come on, I need to tell him I'm gonna be gone for a while anyway and say goodbye to the horses."

Harper started to throw her stuff in the back of her truck. "No, no, you have to leave the truck too."

Faxon opened the trunk of the GTO and they drove down the driveway to the stables, she walked to the office, Faxon followed. Harper introduced him, then she told Jose' the story. He braided her hair in a tight braid, and then they walked back into the stables. Harper went to each stall, every horse came up to her and nuzzled her neck craving her attention.

"She's a very special person Mr. Bennett, if you spend time with her you'll find that out, the horses know. When she rides they'd do anything for her, that's why she's been so successful. I'm old, her parents are gone, and I have nothing to lose but her, if you let her get hurt, I'll kill you."

Faxon looked at the shorter, older, Hispanic man and there was a tear on his cheek, he knew this man meant what he said, he loved her. Faxon shook his hand and walked to the car, Harper hugged Jose' and kissed his cheek.

"I'll call you, take care of yourself, with me gone you shouldn't have any problems. I'm going to call Kate and let her know it's ok if she comes by and rides, maybe if Walter will go with her I'll let her show some, depending on how long I'm gone. Take care of my babies, I love you."

Faxon spun the wheels in the gravel as the GTO took off toward the gates and then down the road toward the Littleton Police Department. Harper reached over into the back and took a Red Socks ball cap from her duffle bag, and put on a pair of sunglasses. Not the kind of big rimmed gaudy over stated women's sun glasses, these were a simple pair of Ray-ban shades.

Through the front doors they both walked to the front desk and a woman officer asked what she could do to help. The woman had seen her before but with the sun glasses, and ball cap she didn't recognize her.

"I'm here to see Lieutenant Jerry Matson."

"Do you have an appointment ma'am?" The officer looked in an appointment book on the desk.

"No, but it's really important, tell him Harper Lewis is here."

"Oh," the officer looked up, "I didn't recognize you Miss. Lewis, he's in his office go on down the hall, I'll let him know you're on the way back." The desk officer was already picking up the phone.

"Harper, you doing ok," Jerry asked? "Please sit down."

"I'm alright Jerry, this is Faxon Bennett."

The two men shook hands and then everyone sat down.

"I'm glad you hired someone. What can I do for you Harper?"

"Faxon's a private detective, and he's made a connection between Robert and the offshore group that tried to buy the family property in the Boston city limits."

"Lieutenant I'm investigating other murders that have a connection to the same group and to organized crime," Faxon said. "Unfortunately all the men involved have been killed. There is one thing in common they all have the same tattoo."

"Jerry, Faxon believes this group was involved in the accident that killed my mom and dad. If the group had been trying to buy that property and my father had refused, well their death could have been intentional."

"Harper that would mean that the man driving the other car knew he was going to die in the accident, who would do something like that?"

"A man that had nothing to lose," Faxon said. "Maybe he was terminally ill, maybe in debt to someone that he felt compelled to clean the slate with."

"So what can I do," Jerry asked as he looked at Harper.

"There's one thing they all have in common, even Robert, they all had the same tattoo on their right upper arm. We need to see the coroner's report on the man that was driving the other car."

"No matter how bad the accident the coroner's report would have described in detail the tattoo," Faxon said. "We would like to read it."

"Jerry I need to know if my parents were killed in an accident, or if they were murdered by the same group my husband obviously belong too. I need to know."

"Alright," Jerry got up, "I'll be right back it should be in the file, it hasn't been that long so we should have it here."

"He likes you," Faxon said after he left the room.

"It's not like that. He was one of the officers that were at the scene of the accident, he was the first one to come notify me."

"Is he single?"

"I don't know, I guess so."

"Ya, he likes you, its plain to see, he didn't have a ring on, he's single, and he likes you."

"Damn, you're jealous."

Faxon didn't have time to respond, Jerry walked back into the office. He handed the report to Harper and never looked at Faxon, Harper read down the report. Faxon moved his chair closer and flipped the first page.

"It'll be here," he said, "I've seen these before, the body description is usually last, after all the chemical reports and contents of the stomach, and crap like that."

They read it practically at the same time. Jessie Walker, body showed signs of long time alcoholism, and chronic drug use, blood alcohol was four times the legal limit. Body showed signs of long term intravenous drug use. Tattoo on right shoulder, and then the description of the tattoo, it was the same.

CHAPTER TEN

Harper was quiet as they walked to the car and drove away. Faxon looked over at her, and she looked like someone about to explode.

"You'll have to tell me where the bank is," he said.

"A left, and a right, and the bank will be down on the right near the intersection."

"It's not a sign of weakness to cry about the loss of your parents you know." He saw a single tear roll down her cheek, her face looked red, she wiped it away.

"My Father would have disagreed."

She struggled to say it without breaking down.

They pulled into the bank parking lot and Faxon cut the car off, got out and walked around to the passenger's side of the car, she still sat in the seat, the window was down. He opened the door and sat on the edge of the floor and reached up and put his hand on her leg.

"Harper if your father would have survived the crash, do you think he would have cried for the loss of his wife? Would you have thought he was weak? Shit Harper, it makes me want to cry."

That's all it took, Harper cried for the loss of her parents, something she'd actually had never done. She stood up out of the car and embraced Faxon, crying on his shoulder. After a few minutes she took a t-shirt out of her bag wiped her face and blew her nose. She picked up a smaller empty athletic bag in the back seat and stood close to Faxon.

"You ever tell anyone about this and I'll make you sorry you were born."

He smiled as she walked away. He knew crying was something very rare for this tough young woman.

In the bank the girl at the help desk took someone's name in front of her and asked them to have a seat and someone would call them soon. Harper removed her sunglasses, her eyes were red and her makeup gone from her cry, she was still embarrassed from the incident at the car.

"Can I help you Ma'am?"

"I want to see Jackson Trent," Harper said.

He was the bank president.

"Do you have an appointment Ma'am?"

"No, tell Mr. Trent Harper Lewis is here to see him, and I'm not going to wait."

The young girl looked at her funny but left the front desk and walked back into the offices and in a moment came back with Jackson Trent behind her.

"Harper it's not very often we get to see you actually in the bank, I'm sorry to keep you waiting please come to my office."

Harper sat down and before Mr. Trent could even sit in his big leather chair she said.

"I've come to make a withdrawal from my money market account."

"Well I can get you a cashers check Harper, how much do you need?"

"No, I want cash, fifty thousand dollars."

"Harper that's larger than the maximum withdrawal I'll have to report it. How about ten thousand dollars, a little less actually, which we don't have to report," he said.

Mr. Trent got up and walked out of the office.

Faxon watched Harper walk out of the bank wearing her Red Socks ball cap and sun glasses he thought about how pretty she was. She opened the door and got in. They only stopped once before getting to the city, to by a burner phone.

He parked the GTO back in the garage near Ned Devine's and he carried her duffle bag to the metal staircase behind the building that led up to the back door of the bar. This early in the afternoon there was only two waitresses working and William in the bar. Faxon carried the big duffle bag up the stairs, and Harper followed carrying the gym bag full of money and the long bag with her guns. He was trying to not be seen bringing a girl up to his room, much less carrying a large bag.

"Hey William, I just saw Faxon, he came up the back steps and went to his room," Lyn said. "He was carrying a big bag and there was someone with him."

"Damn Faxon, this is where you live," William replied.

Harper looked around after dropping her bags on the floor. She looked at the small kitchen, then the small bedroom, then the bathroom, no tub just a shower. Then walked back through the small living room, it had a couch, one chair, and a television on a stand. She didn't notice Faxon looking in the black gym bag with the money. Harper looked in the bedroom, one window, a queen size bed and a small table with a lamp that had a bowl upside down over the top. She assumed it was to mute the light, there was a small three drawer dresser and a small closet."

Harper started picking up clothes on the floor and putting them on the bed.

"What the hell Harper, how much money did you get?"

"That's none of your business, you ever heard of privacy. If I'm going to stay here you're going to have to clean this shit hole up. Funny you don't look like a slob."

For the next hour Faxon washed dishes, filled a garbage bag with dirty clothes, and then another with trash, old pizza boxes, spoiled food out of the fridge, and he emptied the small trash can in the bathroom.

"You can stay in there," Faxon pointed to the bedroom, "maybe we can string a line up across the room so you can hang your clothes. I'm taking this to the dumpster out back and there's a laundry mat at the end of the block, I thought I'd drop my stuff off, I'll be right back you need anything?"

"I'll make a list we can pick some things up tomorrow," Harper kept cleaning and dusting.

"What the hell could you possibly want? This is freaking paradise."

Faxon gave her one of his crooked smiles, and she laughed.

"Let's see air freshener, I'll bet that bathroom smells good when you're done in there, some scented candles, maybe a couple more towels and washcloths, hell you can see through the ones you have. Not to mention I like junk food, potato chips, ice cream, peanuts, some eggs and bacon, some bread, do you want me to go on or just make the list."

"Ya, ya, ya, I got it."

Faxon walked, stopped, and came back, "lock the door." Then he was down the steps and out through the back. He tossed the big bag of trash in the dumpster then went to the Laundromat.

Harper sat on the couch after opening the window in the kitchen and bedroom. The small place looked a lot better and smelled better with the trash gone. She called Sam at the office.

"Hey, I got moved in, I wanted to talk to you, have you got a few minutes? The driver of the car that ran into mom and dad was one of them. He had the same tattoo, they were murdered Sam. I know you need someone in the office to help. I thought I could interview people for the position here in the city, if I find someone that might workout I'll send them to you for the final interview. I want you to continue with the plans to begin the construction on the downtown site. I'll set up an office here in the city, and get a broker to start the preselling of the condo units."

"How you getting along with that investigator guy," Sam asked?

"He's ok. He was Special Forces military, he's thrown away my cell phone so I'm using a burner phone, you won't be able to get in touch with me but I'll call often. Faxon knows how to keep me safe and find the guys behind this."

"Be careful girl, and if you need anything call me, I love you Harper."

"I love you too old man, tell Carol too, and I'll call again soon."

Harper called the office phone knowing Kate would pick up.

"Lewis Construction, how can I help you?"

"Kate, its Harper."

"Harper, God girl how are you?"

"I'm alright, as good as a person can be finding out her husband tried to kill her, and killing him in the attempt, I just wish I could have made the bastard suffer more."

"My grandmother would say you're tougher than old shoe leather Harper. When are we going ridding again?"

"I'm afraid it's going to be a while Kate, there's people out there trying to kill me. I talked to Jose' before I left and told him you might be coming out to train. And I talked to Walter he thinks you have a lot of potential and wants to work with you, so if he thinks you're ready to show again you're welcome to ride any of my horses."

"Thanks Harper, it won't be the same without you, I'll do my best to make you proud."

"Don't take any shit from those pretentious bitches, and love my horses for me, you won't be able to reach me but I'll call again soon."

Harper turned the television on and was watching the evening news when Faxon came back in. She had been thinking about why he hadn't asked her for any money. Faxon set a bag down on the table and took out three scented candles, a bag of potato chips, a jar of dry roasted nuts, a can of air freshener, bacon and eggs, a loaf of wheat bread and a half gallon of milk.

Harper laughed, he threw her the bag of chips.

"I like junk food too."

She stuffed a handful of chips in her mouth and mumbled. "We need some beer."

"We live above a bar, come on we'll have dinner and a few beers, and I can introduce you to everyone."

They walked downstairs and Faxon sat on his usual stool at the end of the bar, Harper took the seat next to him. Will opened the cooler and set a bottle of his favorite beer in front of him.

"William, this is Harper," Faxon said.

"Nice to meet you, it's about time you got a business partner, what can I get you to drink?"

"Same as him," after he turned away she whispered. "You didn't mention we had the same taste in beer at the house last night."

"Ya, I must have forgotten, now that I think about it, you did have a refrigerator full of my favorite beer."

"Hi, my names Lyn, did I hear William say you're Faxon's business partner?"

"Uh, yea, business partner," Harper said just as another waitress walked up.

"High I'm Toni." Lyn whispered to Faxon, loud enough for Harper to hear as she spoke.

"She's really pretty Faxon, does she workout or something?" Lyn smiled then she was gone.

"I'm Harper, nice to meet you Toni." You're a lucky girl Harper, whispered Toni. He won't have anything to do with any of us. We were beginning to think he was gay."

"I heard that, and you're not funny."

The last upstairs waitress came over to pick up some drinks to take to a table. "Hi, I'm Belinda. It's nice to know our Faxon's finally making friends."

"Nice to meet you Belinda," Harper smiled.

"You're all so funny, waitresses and comedians too," Faxon said.

The bar phone rang and William answered. "Yes sir he is, I'll tell him. It was the boss he's in his office downstairs he wants to talk to you."

"I'll be right back," Faxon said to Harper, "and don't believe anything they say."

As soon as he was down the stairs the three waitresses went right to Harper.

"Ok, come on tell us are you with Faxon?"

"You can tell us, we won't say anything to him."

"She's his business partner," William said sarcastically, "now go on get back to work."

"Thanks for that," Harper said. "Are you telling me he doesn't date any of these girls?"

"Faxon has rules, and one very important rule is to never have any relations with a client, or any of the girls that work here. That's why I knew you're a business partner or else he'd have never brought you here. You see there was this woman. Oh great," William said. A loud man in the bar interrupted him. "Faxon's not here."

"That loud guy causing a problem," Harper questioned, "Does he work as bouncer too?"

"When he's around, it's a deal he has with the owner."

"I'll take care of it." Harper got off her stool at the bar and walked across the room. "It's time to leave fat boy, you're drunk and to loud, you're disturbing others."

"I slap you bitch." The big guy swung at her and Harper ducked his swing and punched him hard just below the sternum right in the diaphragm knocking the wind out of him. She slipped behind him when he bent and tried to gasp a breath of air, she kicked him behind the leg and he dropped to one knee. Harper pushed him forward onto his stomach. She put her foot up under his arm pit and wrenched his arm back and up by the wrist and dislocated his shoulder. He finally got a breath and clinched his teeth in pain. Harper grabbed a handful of his hair and bent over and whispered in his ear.

"You shouldn't have called me a bitch. Now I can drag you down those stairs by your ankles, or you can get up and leave on your own, what's it gonna to be?"

Harper pushed his head and it bounced off the floor and she moved away from the drunken loudmouth. She waited for him to get up. He held his left arm against his body with his right hand and walked slowly down the steps. Harper walked back to her seat, half the room clapped, William stood behind the bar with his mouth open.

"Damn girl, you got skills," Lyn said.

William set another beer in front of her just as Faxon was coming up the steps.

"What happened to that big guy I saw leaving?"

"Oh my God Faxon, he was getting loud and started yelling at the table over there," Lyn said, "your partner took care of him. And she didn't break one glass or plate or chair or anything."

William demonstrated Harpers moves explaining how she looked moving behind the guy, taking him down, using her foot as a lever and dislocating his shoulder, then whispering in his ear and letting him get up and leave.

"Faxon you definitely found a keeper," said a regular customer that had seen the confrontation. He was a hedge fund broker, dressed in an expensive suit, he was an attractive man. "I don't think I'd be the only man in the room that would propose marriage."

Harper smiled, "you may want to rethink that. I killed my last husband."

Everyone laughed, they had dinner and attention from others in the bar that just wanted to meet the pretty girl that was a lot more than she seemed.

"So what did the owner want? You in trouble or something," Harper asked?

"No, nothing like that, he lets me borrow one of his cars from time to time, like the GTO. He keeps lots of cars in the parking garage. He noticed it didn't come back home last night, he video monitors his collection. He just wanted to know what happened, I did tell the story to him. He's an old friend, we can trust him, however it seems him and his wife are regulars at the horse show events and they both recognized your name. Seems you're a big star or something, they were very impressed, I couldn't say no, they want us to have dinner with them tomorrow night."

"That's no big deal."

"Well I bet you don't have a fancy dress in that duffle bag, and I'll have to wear a jacket and a tie and crap, I try to avoid dressing up."

"We can buy a dress tomorrow, and maybe something nice for you to wear, I'll bet you clean up real good."

"Funny, for some reason I have a hard time picturing you in a dress after hearing what you did to that drunk."

"What else are we going to do tomorrow, remember you promised we'd look into my parent's murder?"

"Our first stop in the morning will be my friend Lew's house, we'll give him Jessie Walker's name, and your husband's name, he already has the names of the other three guys that died in that warehouse and he'll see if he can make a connection. If he can then we'll start tracking anyone connected to them."

"What about the people that are giving the orders, the man in control, he has to be the one that ordered my parent's death. He'll be the man behind the Marine Group."

"The only connection we have to anyone in the Marine Group is the realtor Manuel Molina, we could follow him but it might not lead anywhere. Could be they do business over the phone or computer, we'd have to get a lot closer, that'll take time Harper."

"I'm tired, I'm going to bed," she said.

"I'll stay until almost everyone's gone, I'll try not to wake you when I come in. I have a key so lock the door."

Harper went upstairs. She dug through her duffle bag until she found her old night shirt she slept in. She stretched a cord across the room and hung some of her things up on empty hangers she found in the closet. She got into bed and drifted off to sleep, and soon the sound of the door opening in the other room woke her.

Harper listened to Faxon bang his knee on the end of the couch and then the light came on. She heard him sit down and imagined him taking his shoes and socks off. In a few minutes she heard the refrigerator door close and it sounded like he laid down on the couch and the light went off. She sat up in bed.

"Damn-it Faxon, you can come in here and lay down, there's enough room. You don't sleep naked do you?" It was quiet. "So get your ass up and come lay down in your own bed."

Faxon walked into the room and stood beside the bed, fluffed the spare pillow, then dropped his jeans and pulled his shirt over his head.

"So I was wondering why William thought I was your new partner. Let's see, if I was a client he knew you wouldn't have me staying here, rule one. So he figured I was your new partner, especially after I took care of that guy."

"Are you going to talk all night?"

"You and your rules, I think it's funny."

The next morning when Faxon woke he yawned, and stretched. He almost forgot he had a guest until he looked up and saw the cord stretched across the room where Harper's shirts and jeans hung. Then he smelled bacon and was glad he went to the store yesterday afternoon. He swung his legs over and slipped on his jeans and pulled his t-shirt over his head.

Harper was standing in front of the small electric stove turning bacon over with a fork. Her hair was wet from the shower. Faxon was going to sit at the small table against the wall when he noticed what she was wearing, or not wearing.

"Damn Harper, you could put some clothes on."

Faxon turned his head and put his left hand over his eyes. She still had her night shirt on and panties but that was all.

"Don't get yourself all worked up, rule one remember." She laughed as she walked around him into the bedroom. "Don't let the bacon burn."

She slipped on a pair of gym shorts and came back into the kitchen where Faxon was finishing the bacon. They made toast in the oven and Faxon cooked eggs over easy. After breakfast he went and showered while she got dressed, Jeans, tennis shoes, and a button up the front shirt only a dark blue one today. She got Faxon to braid her hair and with the Red Socks ball cap and sun glasses the disguise was complete. After he shaved and dressed they went to the garage and drove the Jeep to Lew's house.

"I don't know how you can stand living in the city," Harper said.

They had taken the top and doors off the old Army Jeep, it was a beautiful day cool and clear, the sky was blue and there was practically no breeze.

"I make a good living here."

His cell phone rang and Harper picked it up from between the seats. "Hello."

"Who, you'll have to talk louder. I'm in an open Jeep."

"Give me that, if you're going to answer my phone you have to say, Faxon Bennett Investigations."

"Ya hold on here he is. It's Amanda," she said.

"Faxon who was that," she asked?

"My business partner, her names Harper," he said it a little loud to be heard over the sound of the Jeep.

"I didn't know you had a partner. You haven't called me in a few days, I don't normally call guys, but after the third date rule and not hearing from you, well I thought something must have happened. I have to say that if guys usually make it past the third date, well, they generally show up."

"It's a case I'm working on, I can't elaborate right now, and I'll call you later."

"Well am I going to see you tonight?"

"I can't tonight I have a business dinner, maybe tomorrow."

"Ok, but after five days the three date rule goes into effect again," she said then hung up.

"Girlfriend," Harper asked?

"A girl I met, she's nice, just not very patient. High maintenance you might say. It's hard to meet a nice girl in this business, and then when you do and your work keeps you away they don't understand. What's up with a girl that has a three date rule anyway?"

Harper laughed. "She's young, probably too young for you, and she's dated assholes, to many assholes, which doesn't speak well of her. She's looking for a husband, a nice obedient one. If you're past the third date you've probably got a week to sleep with her Faxon, or she'll make you start all over again."

They got to Lew's house and both of them stood at the front steel door and Faxon rang the buzzer.

"You have to look up there," he said, "He won't answer the door until he sees our face."

The door buzzed and Faxon pushed it open and they went in. She followed him through the house, a narrow winding path with electronics that filled the room nearly to the ceiling.

"Fucking hoarder," Harper whispered.

"He uses all this stuff, Lew builds his own computers and equipment, he's one of the top hackers in the world, so don't say any of that shit that normally comes out of your mouth, try to be charming."

"Hey Lew, this is Harper, a friend of mine, we've got a big job for you."

They gave him the list of names, and she let Faxon do most of the talking and explaining what they needed.

"I'm going to need two thousand dollars for this Faxon. I have to do some serious hacking it's going to take some time."

Harper pulled a wad of bills out of her pocket and counted off two thousand dollars and threw it on the table.

"Money's not a problem for the information we need."

After they left Harper used her latest burner phone to locate a design company, she had brought the blue prints so she could have a model of the Lewis Towers made with a cut away to show the location and design of the condos. Printed pictures and three fold brochures to hand out to prospective buyers, and other material needed for the sales.

"Here," she showed him the information on the phone, "I need you to go by this address it'll only take a few minutes. Do you know anyone that has a well located store front? I need to set up a place for the presales of the Lewis Towers?"

"I do, but I have to warn you she was a client, and friend of another client. I helped a woman catch her cheating husband, her name was Shira Brennon. She referred me to a woman named Lisa Colman who owns a retail center on 9 Park near Beacon Hill. Last time I saw her she had a vacant store next to hers, it's a great location it might be just what you're looking for.

Harper chose the design company to do the mockup model for the Lewis Towers and all the brochures, drawings, and color pictures for the office. Then they drove to Lisa Colman's women's apparel store.

"Damn, this is a perfect store front," Harper said.

They walked inside. "Faxon Bennett, darling it's so good to see you again."

Lisa walked across the room, and had to tiptoe to hug him and kiss his cheek. Lisa Colman was petite, early forties, attractive, and always dressed high fashion. "And who do we have here, dear you're pretty, but I have to question your choice in fashion."

"I'm a business partner," Harper said before Faxon could reply. She extended her hand out to Lisa. Lisa avoided a full hand shake.

"Business partner, how intriguing Faxon, do you have the same rules for business partners dear?"

"We didn't come by to talk about me Lisa we have a client that's interested in the storefront next door."

"Well better yet, I need a tenant. It's a little small however I'm not sure it would be adequate, depending on what they want it for, and of course I'd have to approve of its use. I can't have a sex shop next door, although I don't necessarily find them unwanted, it's just not the right neighborhood you know."

"I think it would be perfect," Harper said, "it'll be used to presell condominiums for a yet to be constructed building downtown."

"We'll I don't see why that wouldn't be acceptable. May I ask who the client is," Lisa asked?

"The Lewis Construction Company," she said.

"Well let me get my keys and we'll go next door, I presume you can approve the lease for the owner?"

"Yes I can."

They waited outside for Lisa to get the keys from her office. Serena winked at Faxon as they left making sure the tall blonde saw her.

"I suspect there's a story here I don't know. You know that old saying about a woman scorned right?"

Lisa came out and went to the vacant store next door, "I'll wait out here," Faxon said.

"This will work out just fine, they only need two desks and there's enough wall space for pictures and diagrams of the building and condo units." Harper said. "A table over here where they can set the model of the building, and it's the perfect neighborhood."

"You sound like you have experienced knowledge of how these things work," Lisa said "I guess Lewis Construction has full confidence you'll choose the right store front for the preselling of the units."

"I was thinking about a six month lease, and if all the units aren't sold an option on six more months."

"Well, I don't normally lease for less than a year at a time."

"How about if they pay you the six month lease up front," Harper said.

"Well I think that'll be fine, if I could just get a signature on an agreement then I won't commit the storefront to anyone else."

They walked back into the women's appeal store, Harper picked out a pair of expensive high heels while Lisa prepared the document in her office. She pulled out a roll of bills and paid cash for the shoes, Then Lisa called her in to sign.

"I'll have the money transferred into your account today," Harper said. "I want to have some things moved in as soon as possible, there'll be a half page announcement in both papers in the next day or so."

Harper signed the lease agreement, thanked Lisa then showed her the shoes she'd picked out for her dinner that night. Lisa recommended a dress shop down the block, and it happened to be one that Harper frequented. Lisa went back into her office after saying goodbye.

Serena came into the office. "Who was she? She paid cash for the shoes Lisa."

She looked down at the signature on the lease agreement.

"That my dear Serena was the Harper Lewis."

Faxon and Harper drove the Jeep down the block to the exclusive woman's wear store. Faxon dropped her off at the curve. She swore it would only take a moment that she was just going to pick something off the rack. Faxon drove around the block twice and the second time Harper was waiting at the curb with a long bag. He stopped at the cleaners and picked up his laundry before parking the jeep back in the garage and then they walked back to Ned Devin's. They went up the back stairs from the ally then up to his room without anyone seeing.

"Well we have a couple of hours before our dinner engagement downstairs," Faxon said.

Harper had gone straight to the bedroom and hung up her dress on the cord. Faxon got a beer from the fridge.

"You want a beer," he yelled.

"Yes, please," she said from the bedroom.

When he walked in to hand her the beer she was looking through his small closet.

"Here, anything specific you're looking for? It's not often I have someone rummaging through my clothes."

"Is this the best jacket you have?" Harper held it up for him to look at, and then threw it on the bed. "I'm looking for a light blue dress shirt, ah here's the slacks I take it you have a belt?"

"I'm wearing it, it's the only one I have, and I do have a blue long sleeved dress shirt it's with the stuff I just picked up from the laundry."

"Don't tell me you just threw it down on the couch with everything else."

She went into the front room and got his stuff and came back into the bedroom. Then hung the clean shirt up alongside the slacks and jacket then stepped back and looked at them.

"The trousers are clean, I just had them laundered a couple months ago," Faxon said as he sat on the bed. "Why so particular? I haven't seen you in anything but jeans and a t-shirt since we met."

"Hold up your shirt, I want to see the belt. Well that looks like crap, but if it's the only one you have it'll have to do."

Harper began digging in the bottom of the closet and finally found his dress shoes under flip flops, hiking boots, and tennis shoes.

"I don't suppose you have any shoe polish do you?"

"No, sorry," Faxon said. "We really don't have to go to this much trouble you know."

"Despite the way I prefer to dress I do occasionally dress up, to meet with prospective clients and insult them if need be. You might consider dressing a little nicer sometimes. It may improve the class of people you do business with."

"Insult prospective clients, how can insulting someone help your business," he asked?

"Sometimes they bait me. My father had this reputation of being a no nonsense hard ass, he once punched a member of the city council in chambers because he insulted his integrity. But people that did business with him trusted and respected him. I think they want to see if I'm the same."

"Well are you, the same?"

"You didn't see the way I handled that fat bastard in the bar last night. Let's just say that when they bait me they're rarely disappointed. Ok this will have to do, I guess you'll look good enough to be with me tonight, but if we're going to be going out I'm going to have to insist that you buy some nicer clothes. I guess I'll have to pick those out for you too. You have terrible taste in evening wear. Now, I'm going to take a shower, and do my hair, so if you need to go, go now."

Harper drank the beer holding the bottle up till it was drained, then burped and walked out of the room, Faxon laughed.

"Hey could you get me another beer," she said as she shut the bathroom door.

Faxon watched the news he could hear the blow drier in the bathroom. When she came out Harper had a towel wrapped around her, she walked to the bedroom gathered all his things and brought them back out to him.

"You don't mind dressing out here do you? Hurry up now, we don't wanta be late."

Faxon dressed, dark blue slacks, light blue long sleeved shirt, blue stripped tie, and his dark blue blazer. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror and brushed his hair. Harper came out of the bedroom pulling on a shoe and balancing on one foot.

"You look nice. An Italian suit and a better haircut and you'd almost be handsome."

Her long blonde hair was brushed out around her shoulders and down her back. Her dress was dark blue matching his suit. It was conservative with short sleeves and a square neckline that barely showed any cleavage, and it came down to mid-thigh.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of that look men get on their faces. Come on we don't want to be late."

They walked out into the bar and then down the stairs to the large dining room.

"Harper Lewis this is Ronald McFarland and his wife Sophie," Faxon said.

They had been waiting near the stairs after just arriving. The owner of the restaurant was treated special by everyone, and the waitresses escorted them to a table in the back. They sat down and the girls took their drink order.

I don't think I've ever seen you dressed up before Faxon." Ron said.

"Harper, it is such an honor to meet you," Sophie began, "I think we've seen every event you've ridden in over the last two years. We were at the Hampton Horse Show when your horse died, God I thought it was you on the horse at first. I mean the announcer said it was you, but of course you're much taller. That pour girl broke her arm, and my God Harper your beautiful horse."

"Ok Sophie, calm down. She's so excited about meeting you Harper," Ron commented. "We're big fans. Faxon explained everything, and we want to help. If you're going to stay in the city we have a top floor condo you could stay in. It's much more to your standard of living. I mean that place of Faxon's above the bar is no more than a large closet. Now it's ok for a tough guy like him, but you're use to a little more luxury."

"Well part of the reason I'm here is because Faxon's going to investigate my parent's murder. It's very important to me."

"Well the condo is big enough for Faxon too," Sophie quickly interjected.

"Really I appreciate the offer, my father and mother gave me anything I wanted, that's true, but I was also taught that having everything is not all there is to life. I've slept on the ground camping for days on end with my father. We lived in a small cabin at hunt camp with five other men. I've shot, killed, and gutted deer and hogs. And I killed my husband that had planned on strangling me. So really I appreciate the offer but I'm fine where I am."

It was quiet, well she had warned him that at times she had to set people right, and she wasn't one to be pushed. Behind that beautiful woman was something special, and so far Faxon felt like he was on a wild roller coaster ride hanging on for dear life.

Faxon laughed. "Well my place looks a lot better than it did. Hell she's had me cleaning the place up."

Ron and Sophie nervously laughed with him. And drinks and dinner was served. Faxon emphasized how important it was that Harpers being here remain confidential. They all laughed when one of the waitresses recounted the story of Harper bouncing the large drunk from the bar. Faxon spoke up about Harpers other interest such as the defensive arts. At the end of the evening Ron proposed one more thing.

"Listen Faxon that room upstairs, there's a large storage room right next door let me have everything moved out of there, I can store that stuff at the garage. And then I'll get one of my guys to knock the wall down and it'll give you twice as much room. Hell I'll remodel the place it'll be more comfortable for you, ok?"

"Ya, that'd be real nice Ron, thank you."

"And drive whatever you want of the cars in the garage, there's some more comfortable cars than the Jeep."

"That's really nice of you Ron. I like the jeep."

They went upstairs only this time everyone knew they were having dinner with the owners and from what the waitresses had overheard they believed Harper was more than just Faxon's business partner. The word spread fast that she was someone special, someone the owners respected. Someone with a lot of money, neither Harper nor Faxon liked the attention. She went on up to the small apartment while Faxon explained to William and the waitresses to keep it quiet about her being anyone special.

When he came in to the apartment she stood in the kitchen holding a beer bottle looking out the window, she was barefoot he noticed her shoes just inside the door.

"Well that was a nice evening. I think I got the waitresses to keep their mouths shut about you being anyone special." Faxon took off his jacket and tie. "Did you see Sophie's face when you mentioned gutting deer? I thought she was going to puke right on the table. You know they just wanted to help you. You didn't have to go off like that. I don't think they were pushing you."

Harper turned around. "I don't give a shit about living in a top floor condo, or here in a small apartment, or a fucking cardboard box in a fucking alley," she yelled. "If I want a condo I can go buy a fucking condo. What I want is to find out who the son of a bitch is that was behind my parents death, and I want to kill that mother fucker." She threw the bottle down smashing it on the floor. "So I don't give a shit if I hurt theirs or your fragile feelings. I'm here for one reason. To find him and kill him."

Faxon got up and went to the door and stopped. "You don't have to show me how tough you are. I know you're hurting, you loved your parents and you miss them. I don't think you've truly mourned their loss completely. The man you loved tried to kill you, I get all that, but one day weather we find the people responsible or not, you're gonna have to let that go of all that hate, or you'll never have a life of your own."

He walked out and shut the door behind him. Faxon went to the bar and sat on his stool, William set a beer in front of him.

"Tough night huh," William asked? "I heard something break upstairs."

"Yea, I dropped a beer, really hard."

Faxon was thinking about what had just happened when someone sat down beside him, and he heard a girl's voice ask for a martini. William asked to see an ID. Faxon looked over, it was Amanda.

"Well I decided to come see what was so important that you wouldn't call me anymore. I thought we could've had something special."

"Yea, well I seem to have a problem with relationships Amanda, I'm probably not the right guy for you."

"Do you think I'm too young, or too immature?"

"No," Faxon said.

Just then Harper walked up from the back. She had changed into jeans and tennis shoes and she wore a black t-shirt. Her hair was still loose around her shoulders. She stood next to him at the end of the bar. Amanda looked at Harper starring at Faxon without saying anything as if no one else existed.

"Ok, I get it," Amanda looked at Harper. "Congratulations you got the last great guy in the city."

Harper never looked at her. "I'm sorry, you were right, come back upstairs. Please."

She turned around and went back up to the small apartment. He followed after a few minutes. When he got upstairs she had already gone to bed, the light in the kitchen was still on and Faxon got a small bowl and a spoon, then the ice cream from the freezer. He spooned out some in the bowl, and after he was done he washed out the bowl then left it in the sink. In the bedroom he slipped his clothes off, and got in bed. Harper was turned away from him as usual but he didn't think she was asleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next morning Faxon woke but didn't smell bacon, only the aroma of coffee, and he didn't hear anything either. Harper wasn't in bed and obviously not in the apartment. He sat on the edge of the bed and picked up his clothes from the night before and put them on a hanger. Mentally making a note to drop them off at the cleaners, there was no telling when he'd need them again and since that was the only nice clothes he had he'd need them clean and ready.

He walked into the kitchen and there was a new drip coffee maker on the counter, an empty cup, and a note.

"Faxon, I went to the store down the block to pick up some things, be right back, there's some donuts on the table unless you feel like cooking! There's bacon and eggs in the fridge. I felt like something sweet this morning."

He sat at the small table after opening the window for some fresh air, there was a copy of the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe on the table. Phone numbers were written on the front of each. Harper had probably called about the half page ads for the preselling of the condos he thought. There were relators ads circled and an employment agency phone number. There was the card from the design company that Harper had called on the table too. It was obvious she was following up on the things she had set in motion yesterday.

The note of things to do, first on the list, call Sam, Faxon knew it meant Sam Shepard her general manager they needed to hire someone to replace her husband in the Company. Next on the list was just the name, Lew. Faxon would need to explain to her that they had to wait for him to call, pushing Lew wouldn't help. The next thing on the list was, food shopping. That was crossed off. The next thing was, buy clothes for Faxon, well that was something she was going to have to forget. Her taste in clothes were way to expensive, an Armani suit, shit if he didn't get another job soon he'd be out of money.

He'd had just poured his second cup of coffee when Harper came in. She had the straps of a cloth grocery bag in each hand and one over each shoulder. They were the kind of reusable eco-friendly bags people used with the store logo on the sides. A tall teenage young man came in behind her carrying four more bags.

"You're up. This is John he volunteered to help me carry some groceries home."

"It was only a couple of blocks," he said.

"Well that was very nice of you," Harper pulled out some cash and handed it to the young man.

"Ma'am, this is too much really."

She insisted and hurried him on his way.

"Damn, he called me ma'am."

She started putting things away, starting with the cold items, twelve pack of beer first, milk, more eggs, bacon, and several other items.

"Are we ok," she asked looking at Faxon.

"Yea, sure, how much did you give the kid?"

"Fifty, is that too much? He probably only makes minimum wage."

"Hell I'll carry 'em for that much next time. Speaking of money, I saw your, to do list on the table. I'll drop off my stuff at the cleaners today I can't afford to buy clothes right now. If I don't get some paying work soon I'll be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

"I've got a walk in closet full of really nice clothes and expensive suits that were Richards but they couldn't be altered to fit, you're too wide in the shoulders and narrow in the waist, your arms are a lot larger and you've got that bull neck of yours."

"What did you see in the guy anyway? I saw pictures, and he just didn't look your type, not very physical, and hell he must have been ten years older than you."

"Eight years older, it was after mom and dad died. He was there for me. I know now he was there for the money, it's hard to meet someone when your father has the reputation mine had. I really can't blame that on him though, I had my own reputation. I just couldn't find a guy that could keep up with me, but I loved Richard, we had the business in common. I thought a lot about what you said last night, and I don't think I've gotten over that son of a bitch trying to kill me. How come you haven't asked me for any money, you know, for helping me out?"

"I haven't done anything."

"We'll I don't like to eat out all the time so I bought a couple steaks, some bake potatoes, pork chops, rice, and some canned goods, soup, lots of stuff."

Faxon's cell phone rang. "Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said. (Long pause) "I think I can help you, I can meet you this morning just give me the address." He put the cell phone down.

"Who was that," Harper asked?

"A man named Pierce Clark, it's a potential divorce case, depending on what the settlements worth to him it could be five grand. Most of my cases are women, with cheating husbands, this should be interesting."

Later they drove the Jeep to the Singleton building, Pierce Clark was owner of a brokerage firm with an office on the sixth floor, suite six twelve.

"What's the guy do for a living anyway," Harper asked?

"He's a broker, real estate, and office buildings, commercial. I'm not that knowledgeable about these things."

"Well this might save me a stop if he can help me with the pre-selling of the condo units. The thing is I'm not interested in the type of commissions a broker wants. An owner developer doesn't need licensing so what I need is a sales person that knows real estate, someone I can pay a little less than standard commissions."

They rode the elevator up to the sixth floor. When the door opened Faxon checked the listing of businesses and corresponding office numbers on the directory.

"Let me get his story and at least half the fee before you go strong arming the guy to help you."

"Strong arm the guy, damn Faxon is that what you think of me? In business we call it finesse, not strong arm tactics. I'm definitely going to have to teach you the difference."

They walked through the door and to the desk where a young pretty short haired girl sat. She smiled and stood looking at Harper. She starred, but eventually held out her hand toward her.

"Hi, I'm Jack, it's short for Jacklyn, what can I do for you?"

She ignored Faxon completely, and he thought she hung on to Harper's hand a little too long.

"We're here to see Mr. Clark," Faxon said. The short haired girl finally looked at him.

"You must be the PI. Sure follow me."

Jack walked down a narrow hall, Harper was in front of Faxon, and they passed two offices, both empty. Jacklyn turned as she walked.

"I didn't get your name?"

"Harper, my names Harper Lewis," she said.

When they got to the next office the girl knocked on the open door, "Mr. Clark a Harper Lewis is here to see you."

"Harper Lewis, damn-it Jack don't keep her waiting."

Mr. Clark said it like he was expecting her. The girl looked at Harper again and stepped out of the way. Harper walked into the small office and Pierce Clark stood smiling. He held out his hand to her and they shook, he all but ignored Faxon as he came in behind her.

"Mrs. Lewis, it's an honor to meet you, please sit down."

Faxon and Harper sat in the two chairs opposite Mr. Clark.

"Mrs. Lewis I heard about your approval and permitting of a project on the property at Mass. Ave. and Dalton Street. I really hope you've come to me about the pre-selling of the condos?"

"I'm a little surprised you know about that Mr. Clark?"

"I'm in the real estate business Mrs. Lewis a project that big is hard to keep quiet. That and the permitting is public knowledge. I understand that the city council has approved the pre-selling of condo units to finance the construction, and that your company is going to build the project?"

"Yes Mr. Clark, you're correct."

"Well I hope you'll let me help."

"Mr. Bennett here, is my business partner, when he said he was coming to see you about a problem you're having I wanted to meet you. Any conversation or agreement we may or may not have concerning the Lewis project is also under Mr. Bennett's consideration, since we're partners."

"Of course, yes of course." Mr. Clark stood and shook Faxon's hand, and he had a completely different perspective about his importance in any agreement.

"Mr. Bennett I'm so sorry to ignore you, I apologize, and that was unprofessional of me. You were referred to me by Lisa Colman, and she couldn't say enough good things about you. We met when I was questioning her about my wife's purchases, and any knowledge of anyone that might have been with her."

Harper and Faxon exchanged a look about Lisa Colman. She had obviously said something about the Lewis project and the pre-selling of the condos to Mr. Clark.

"I married a much younger woman, but was smart enough to get her to sign a marriage contract. She agreed because she's my third wife and believed I would stray again. I'm afraid her motive was money, and of course I had my own motives. We've been married for three years, for the last year I've restricted how much money she can spend and as a result her interest in sex has all but vanished. A woman her age, well I suspect she's having an affair, I've hired two private detectives and both of them have found no evidence of another man. I'm sure she's having an affair and she's waiting to catch me with another woman or wait until I ask for a divorce and enact the marriage agreement, get a divorce with a large payout and be done with me. I need you to bring me the proof I need."

"I know what you need for legal proof Mr. Clark, and because you've tried twice it's going to be harder to catch her in the act. The reason people refer me is because I get the job done but it's certainly not easy. In Lisa Colman's retrieval of her inventory three men were killed. Now I don't expect anyone to die in obtaining the evidence you need, but it's going to cost you. Ten thousand dollars, that's my fee for what you want, five thousand now and the balance when I bring you the evidence."

It was quiet for a moment and then Pierce Clark took out his check book. After writing it out for five thousand dollars and handing the check to Faxon, he looked at Harper as she stood.

"Mr. Clark you're aware that I've leased the storefront from Lisa Colman for the pre-selling of the Lewis Towers condos. I've contracted a design company for the mock-up of the buildings from the blueprints and large pictures of the buildings and condo units. As soon as they're done I'll need someone to set up the office with the contracts and begin the pre-selling. I'm sure we'll talk again soon."

Mr. Clark stood and shook her hand. "Thank you Mrs. Lewis, thank you very much." Then he turned to Faxon and shook his hand less vigorously. "And I'm sure you'll succeed where the others have failed Mr. Bennett, the fee is well worth it, that little bitch spends that much in a week."

They walked out but not before Jacklyn stood and extended her hand again toward Harper. Faxon reached over and held her hand, their fingers immediately laced together and she squeezed his hand and stood close. Their shoulders touching it felt very natural to her, she could feel his warmth. She shook hands with Jacklyn, her smile was gone. They walked out of the office and he didn't let go of her hand until they got to the elevator neither of them said anything about the simultaneous hand holding.

"What the hell was that about in the office with Pierce Clark," Faxon asked? "I thought we made an agreement about my job first."

"Obviously Lisa Colman told him I would need a broker, that's why he called you in the first place. His wife's probably not even having an affair, so you charged him five thousand dollars for a meeting and getting me into the office."

"Shit Harper he probably thought that was a deal if he gets the job with you, I should have asked for twenty, I don't like being used."

"We're not going to argue again are we?"

Harper turned to Faxon and stood uncomfortably close. She kissed his cheek just as the doors opened. Two women standing waiting to get into the elevator smiled at them as they left.

"Can we go see Lew? Don't you think he'll have something for us?"

"He said he'd call, we can't hurry him, Lew's just this side of crazy, and he does things in his own time. What about your newspaper ads?"

"We'll if I make a deal with Pierce Clark I won't need to interview anyone for that position. I still need an engineer, slash salesman for Lewis Construction. I really don't know how to explain the position any better than that. It has to be someone that has an engineering degree and someone that can convince a prospective client to sign a contract to have Lewis Construction do their project, from sight development to building completion. Let me call Sam," Harper said.

"Hi Sam, (pause) yea I'm fine. I found a great storefront, it's on 9 Park Street, I have a production company making the building mock-up and all the literature, and our lawyer is making the contracts, and I think I've found a broker to work with. I haven't interviewed anyone for the position. (Pause) I really don't want the job Sam. I think I've found something else I like, other than riding horses. (Pause) Tonight, you have to be kidding me? What's his name? Yea I got it, 9:00pm at the Ritz Carlton, Boston Common. You could give me a little more notice than this old man. (Pause) I love you too, bye."

"I don't like the sound of that," Faxon said.

"I have to go to a business meeting tonight, it's a potential contract to build a production plant just outside the city for a company called Tempest Manufacturing, he's personally asked for me. A man named Turin Holmes, I need an escort."

"You have got to be kidding?"

"Oh that's very funny, you heard me tell Sam that. What do you want me to do show up by myself? I know I could hire a male escort for the night. I'll need a new dress. The shoes I wore last night will suffice. You're going to need a nice suit."

"I don't have the money for that."

"I'll mark it off as a business expense, take me to that same dress shop they had a black Versace that looked nice, a little risqué, and there was a men's suit tailor right next door, they had Armani."

Faxon got fitted for a black suit. Harper made them bring in two tailors from the back to make adjustments to suit her taste and in an hour they had made the alterations. A pair of expensive black Italian shoes and belt, with a new shirt and tie and Faxon's was done to Harper's satisfaction.

He carried the new suit and extras to the dress shop and sat in the waiting room, Harper tried on a short black dress. One of the sales girls got him a cup of coffee and soon she walked out barefoot wearing the Versace design.

Faxon stood, "you cannot be seriously thinking about wearing that?"

"You don't like it? It's a Versace Faxon. It's top of the fashion world."

"If you bend over in that dress your ass will show, and if you move the wrong way you'll pop out of that top for Christ sakes."

"Well I won't bend over and no jumping around either then."

They went back to Ned Devine's and Harper showered first while Faxon went down to the bar to have an early beer. William was preparing for the evening, and he filled Faxon in on the workmen that had been there most of the day working in the storeroom next to his small apartment. They'd be ready to open up the adjoining wall by tomorrow. He waited long enough for Harper to be through with her shower and dry her hair then he went back to the room.

Harper was in the bedroom still, she heard the door open and close. "Faxon, I called and rented a limousine for tonight, we can't go to the Ritz in the Jeep."

"Great, what the hell are people around here going to say about a limo pulling up out front and us coming down the stairs and getting in?"

"We can tell them it was a client. Are you worried about that? Or are you pissed about having to dress up tonight? You know this isn't what I wanted to do, don't you?" She still talked to Faxon through the bedroom door. "I do have some obligations to the Company. I owe them that."

"Yea, I understand, I guess I didn't know what I'd be in for when I made the decision to help you is all."

"Do you regret it?"

"No, I don't regret it. My life seems a little more complicated, but no regrets."

"My Aunt Rachel fly's in tomorrow, her plane lands at 11:00 am. She stayed in Miami for a week after her cruse came in, she met some friends. I'll need to pick her up and take her back home. I thought I'd rent a car. She doesn't know about Richard, or anything else, I guess I have a lot to explain."

Harper came out of the bedroom ready to go. "You need to get ready. The car will be here soon."

Faxon walked by her to go put on his new Armani suit.

"You really look beautiful you know. Like a lot of things now it's not so bad, having to go to the Ritz I guess, as long as I get to go with you."

They went out the front, the car was waiting by the curb and the driver opened the back door for them to get in. A couple of the waitresses whistled at them as they went through the dining room. Harper didn't sit right next to Faxon but she did sit about halfway across the wide back seat with Faxon by the door.

"Are you coming with me tomorrow to pick up Aunt Rachel?"

"That may be a little uncomfortable, I mean she doesn't even know about your husband, or the plot that got your parents killed. I think maybe that's something you may need to do by yourself."

"I wanted you to meet her. She's a lot like my father in certain ways. Maybe another time," Harper said.

When they pulled up to the entrance a doorman got the car door and Faxon got out first, he had warned Harper about her dress again just before he held out his hand to help her out. Not that she needed it but it was the proper thing to do. She took his hand and after they walked to the entrance he let go. Mr. Turin Holmes and his wife Penton were there just inside. It wasn't strange to Faxon that the man knew immediately who she was.

"Harper Lewis, I'm so glad to make your acquaintance, this is my wife Penton Holmes."

They shook hands. "I'm afraid I've never heard of Tempest Manufacturing Mr. Holmes, but I'm glad to have the opportunity to convince you Lewis Construction is the right choice for your project. This is my business partner, Faxon Bennett."

They shook hands then made their way to the dining room. After being seated and their drink orders taken Faxon was beginning to feel a little more comfortable.

"Harper I wanted to give my condolences concerning you husband, when I asked Mr. Shepard if he would be attending he told me Richard had been killed in your home. I understand it was recent, you must still be in mourning."

Faxon remembered what she had told him about some people baiting her and he just knew a crazy curse laden tirade was about to start.

"It's a very private experience Mr. Holmes. But that's not why we're here tonight is it? I was told your project is a manufacturing facility for electronics and that you have Government contracts to guarantee success. That must be extremely fortunate, certainly takes all the risk out of the investment doesn't it?"

"It does, it certainly does, and those contracts are difficult, you wouldn't believe the political contributions it takes to just be considered. You know I have a friend in law enforcement and when I heard about your husband I contacted him. Since I was considering doing business with Lewis Construction I wanted to know about the person I was going into a two hundred million dollar project with. Well I was shocked to hear that you, yourself killed your husband. That unfortunately he meant to strangle you. Is that right?"

Faxon sat up in his chair and drank down the two fingers of Jameson Whisky, he was sure that was all it would take and expected Mr. Holmes to get a fork in his neck any minute.

"Well Mr. Holmes there's a lot of information about my husband's death that is still being investigated. But if you want to know why you should do business with Lewis Construction you should know that my Father's word was his honor and when he said the job would get done, and done on time, and within budget, then his handshake was enough. What you get with Lewis Construction is confidence and I am my father's daughter."

"Well Mr. Bennett did you know you would be such a witness to this wit of words," asked Penton.

"To be totally honest Mrs. Holmes, as well as I know Harper this has been very civilized, but I'm afraid I don't find it entertaining."

"Well Penton," Mr. Holmes said to his wife "it's just Mr. Bennett is much more suited to chasing around unfaithful husbands than making hundred million dollar business deals."

Faxon started to get up, but Harper reached over and put her hand on his leg.

"Mr. Holmes, Faxon does much more than that, recently he was instrumental in the deaths of three men that were involved in a theft ring. And I can guarantee you not all that were involved have faced ultimate justice yet, but they will."

There was quiet as their dinner order was taken and there was no more uncomfortable conversation. The evening was nearly over Mrs. Holmes excused herself and Harper followed her to the ladies room.

"Mrs. Holmes your husband reminds me so much of my father that I have to ask, was he in military service?"

"He was, I think that's why he likes pushing people's buttons, and he's always been in control. He was in the Marines."

The evening ended with Mr. Holmes not making a commitment, but Harper had found out more than she had expected. Faxon got into the limo after Harper and they drove away from the Ritz.

"That son of a bitch, he knew who I was," Faxon said. "He's one of them. Shit I thought you were going to stab him in the neck with a fork, and I'd have been right there on top of him with you. They couldn't find you, and he knows we're on to them, so he knew if he proposed a project for Lewis Construction and asked for you personally you'd have to show up."

"I don't think his wife is in on it, in the ladies room I asked her if he was in the military. He was a marine. So now we know someone that's behind this, I don't think he gave the order to kill my parents though."

"Yea but he knows we're working together," Faxon said.

"Do you think he knows where we're staying?"

"I don't know but we can't have the driver deliver us to the door of Ned Devin's just in case he has someone following us. You're gonna have to be much more careful from now on too." Faxon tapped on the divider and talked to the driver. "Take us to 130 Bowdoin Street, Boston View Apartments."

"Why are we going there?"

"I have a friend that lives there, a client, she'll give us a ride, she owes me."

The limo had been paid for but Harper gave the driver a hundred dollar tip from her clutch and they walked into the lobby of the building. Faxon was already calling Apartment 1202.

"It's Faxon. (Pause) I need a favor, you owe me remember. Do you have a customer? (Pause) I'm in the lobby."

"So you have a girlfriend that lives here," Harper asked?

"You did hear me, I called her a client?"

The elevator doors opened.

"Damn Faxon is that an Armani suit? You didn't tell me you had someone with you." Barbie was dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a half t-shirt without a bra, and flip flops on. "Is she a client? Damn is that a Versace? Well you can forget about fuckin' him sweetie."

Barbie walked through the door that led to the parking garage from the lobby. "What if I had a client Faxon?"

"You could always just pay me what you owe me Barbie."

"Did someone else cut your hair?"

"Yea, a real barber," he said.

Barbie drove her Audi, Harper sat up front, and Faxon sat behind her.

"Drop us off around back in the ally," he said. When they got out Harper turned back before she closed the door.

"I'm not a client," she winked at Barbie and closed the door. She heard Barbie say, "Bitch" as she drove away. Upstairs they changed out of their evening wear, Harper changing first in the bedroom. She came back out wearing her night shirt and gym shorts yawning. Faxon changed into a pair of boxers and a white t-shirt and sat on the couch then turned the television to a late night movie.

"I'm tired," Harper said, and went to bed. Faxon kept thinking about the implications of Turin Holmes. Everything was now a lot more dangerous. Faxon ended up falling asleep on the couch with the television on. At about 3:00 am, Harper shook his shoulder and woke him up. He staggered into the bedroom and went back to sleep.

In the morning Faxon woke to the smell of bacon again, he rolled over stretched and looked at the clock. It was 9:30 am. He said good morning to Harper standing at the stove and went straight to the bathroom. When he came out he sat at the small table and noticed she was already dressed and ready to go to the airport.

"Listen, I couldn't go to sleep last night thinking about Turin Holmes. We're gonna have to be careful. It'll be unexpected; you have to stay out of direct sight of tall buildings. Look at everybody as a potential threat. You have to be prepared for the unexpected. (There was a short silence) I can't let anything happen to you. I don't have anyone that depends on me, but you have everyone that works for Lewis Construction depending on you. You have the Lewis legacy, the towers, and your father's dream. I was thinking since your Aunts coming home maybe we should find a place for the two of you somewhere else here in the city."

"No, they won't bother her as long as I'm alive. She can go back home even if I have to hire someone to stay with her. But after I explain everything about what's been going on, if she wants to get away I'll take care of it. And as far as you're concerned, you're not getting rid of me that easy. It looks like we're in this together, and you do have someone that needs you. (Pause) I have a rental car coming to pick me up, I thought I'd stay the night at the house, I haven't seen the horses in a while and it'll give me some time with Aunt Rachel."

"I'll go change, we should take the guns."

"I thought you said you didn't want to go?"

"I have to go Harper, I have to go. I'd go crazy here wondering if someone was going to try to kill you. If your Aunt doesn't understand about me, well I think I can take her."

They waited just inside the front door at Ned Devine's. Harper was talking to Lyn, one of the upstairs waitresses. Faxon thought it seemed out of character for her to be talking about fashion, dresses, shoes, scarfs, and stuff. Here she was, her hair in a ponytail wearing jeans, a t-shirt, tennis shoes, sunglasses and a Reds Socks ball cap. A white minivan pulled up out front and honked its horn.

"Damn Harper, a minivan," Faxon said.

"It's stealthy, who's going to think we'd be traveling in a minivan?"

They got in quickly. Faxon checked the front before Harper walked out and got in the back. At the airport they parked in short term parking and the driver left them with the keys. They rode the elevator down to the terminal with a couple talking about going on vacation. It reminded Harper of the last thing she had talked about with Richard. He had said they needed to get away, just the two of them, the whole time he had planned on coming back that night to kill her.

Harper stood watching for the people getting off the plane and walking up the ramp. Faxon stood back and watched as a tall woman in good physical condition with long blonde hair dropped her carry-on bag and hugged Harper. He noticed a man about her age standing back watching the two women as people walked around them. He was about six foot five, slim, with black short hair and a little gray at the temples. He reached down to pick up Harper's Aunt's bag and Faxon started to interfere then he saw them both turn to the tall man.

"Harper this is my friend Conner," Rachel said. "He's going to be staying at the house for a while, if that's alright with you?"

"We'll Aunt Rachel this is kind of unexpected most people just bring home a t-shirt."

"You told me to have a good time girl, Conner and I have become close, there's not going to be a problem is there?"

"No, no of course not, there's been some unexpected things that's happened, but we can talk about that on the way home," Harper said.

Harper talked with Rachel about their cruise as they went down the escalator, the tall man, Conner was behind them carrying Rachel's carry-on bag and one of his own, Faxon was a few steps behind.

When they got to baggage Harper and Rachel stood together talking while Conner watched the carrousel for their bags. Faxon kept watching wondering if this was one of the Marine Groups men, he had to suspect everyone if he was going to keep Harper alive. Conner reached for a bag but missed the next one. Faxon stepped up quickly and easily pulled the bag from the carrousel.

"Thank you sir," Conner said.

"I'll be glad to carry it for you."

Rachel turned and looked at Faxon she saw the look between Harper and him.

"Who's the muscle Harper? And why do you need someone?"

"Let's get to the car and I'll explain Aunt Rachel. Let me introduce Faxon Bennett, private investigator."

Faxon turned to Conner. "Were you in the service?"

"No, I never had the pleasure."

"So you weren't a Marine?"

"No," Conner said.

"Then you want mind showing me your right arm and shoulder."

"I don't mind at all but can you tell me what this is about?"

"A tattoo, a certain tattoo, and I'm going to have to insist," Faxon said.

Conner lifted his short sleeve, there were no tattoos.

Of course Rachel continued asking questions as the four of them rode the elevator up to short term parking. Faxon opened the back of the minivan and they put the bags in. Rachel and Harper sat in the back, Faxon drove and Conner remained quiet while Rachel asked one question after another.

"Richards dead Aunt Rachel, he tried to kill me."

Over the next thirty minutes Harper explained what had happened, Conner understood the reason for Faxon asking to see his shoulder and arm to check for the tattoo. Aunt Rachel was as angry as Harper, and threatened to kill them all. Faxon saw were Harper got her hardness from it was in her Aunt too. He wished he'd known her father.

CHAPTER TWELVE

When they got to the house Harper told her Aunt Rachel that she had to go see her horses, Rachel showed Conner around the house. Faxon got in her truck with her and they drove down to the stables. Jose' was mucking out a stall when Harper came running down the center aisle. She hugged his neck and told him how much she'd missed him, and the horses, even though it had only been a short time. Harper went from stall to stall, the horses were as happy as she was. She jumped on Neck Rider bareback and without a bridal, he pranced around the paddock while she laughed like a little girl, it was a side of her he hadn't seen and it made Faxon smile. For the first time in a while the threat of her possible death didn't weigh on his shoulders.

He patiently waited until she decided it was time to go back and finish her conversation with her Aunt Rachel. She was still excited talking about wanting to go horseback riding with him, when Faxon protested Harper promised to put him on the gentlest line horse she had. She wanted them to go motorcycle riding, and said he could ride her Dad's bike. Then it was the two of them going to hunt camp together, all before they got to the house, then she was quietly in thought. They stopped up under the carport beside the kitchen, Harper looked over at Faxon and they smiled at each other. Past Faxon through the kitchen window Harper saw Rachel standing in the kitchen her back against the counter, Conner stood in front pressed against her, his arms around her, and they were passionately kissing.

"Well I guess they're more than just friends," she said.

Rachel and Conner pulled apart quickly when they heard the truck doors close. Harper went into the living room to talk more with her Aunt about what had happened since Richard's death. Faxon got a beer out of the fridge and a bag of chips from the pantry.

"Funny I've only been around Harper for a little while but somehow I knew she'd have some chips in the cabinet."

Conner got him-self a beer and stood against the same counter where he stood a moment ago kissing Rachel.

"Rachel's a very special person, I too have only known her for a short time but I couldn't stand to see her leave, so when she asked me to come with her I jumped at the chance. So Harper hired you to help her," Conner asked?

"No, I'm not an employee, but I'm going to make sure she doesn't get herself killed."

"That has several different meanings."

"What is it you do for a living Conner?"

"I own a restaurant on South Beach in Miami. It's called the Sand Piper. My son runs it so it leaves me the time to explore my interests. My wife died six years ago, cancer, I still miss her. This is the first time I've been swept off my feet. Rachel's different she's tough, straight forward, passionate, and certainly addictive."

"I'm pretty sure you didn't expect to step into the middle of a murder syndicate," Faxon said. "Conner if you truly love Rachel you'll try to convince her to go back to Miami with you. These guys won't stop until they get what they want I'm afraid. I'm just saying someone else is going to die, I have to make sure it's them not Harper."

"I'll try to convince her. So what's up with you and Harper, I can see the way she looks at you, don't tell me you don't feel something for her."

"She's a recent widow. I don't think it's appropriate or timely to be feeling anything other than respect."

Harper finished her story. Ending with their recent dinner with what they thought was maybe the man in charge. Because she had all but disappeared this man had called the office for a meeting under the ruse of a potential contract for Lewis Construction. He had confronted Harper flaunting his guilt in front of her.

The two women came back into the kitchen where they found both Faxon and Conner five beers each into a drunk. They put two frozen pizzas in the oven and after finishing them and two more beers Faxon was laughing with Rachel describing some of Harpers tirades. Finally Rachel steered Conner out the back door and around the pool, making sure he didn't stumble in. Rachel hadn't tried to hide the fact that they were sleeping together. Harper had partially followed them to make sure Rachel didn't need any help.

Back to the kitchen she found Faxon eating another piece of pizza and downing another beer, he was leaning over the bar as if it was the only thing holding him up.

"Shit Harper I hope you're not as drunk as I am. Think you could shoot straight right now? Crap I'm not being very responsible am I? Bastard, that fucking bastard, I'll find that son of a bitch when we get back, and kill him."

"You need to go to bed, if I can get your drunken ass up the stairs."

Harper put one of his arms around her shoulders and they both made it up the stairs laughing. She got him into one of the spare bedrooms and let him fall back on the king size bed. She unlaced his hiking boots and pulled them off, and then his socks, he was all but asleep. She got behind him, sat him up, and pulled his shirt over his head. Now he was lying on his back.

"You gonna take first watch," Faxon slurred.

Harper laughed then leaned over and unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans, pulled down his zipper, and then worked them down below his hips. She pulled them off from his ankles, pulled the coverers back on one side of the bed and rolled him over leaving his boxers on and then covered him up. She leaned down close to his face before turning off the bedside light.

"I'm not worth a shit right now Harper," he whispered.

She kissed his cheek and with his eyes closed he smiled. She cut the light off and left the room.

The next morning she let him sleep till 10:00. Harper was in the kitchen waiting to make him breakfast when he came downstairs holding his head. Faxon sat at the bar, Harper set a large glass of ice water, and several ibuprofens in front of him. He drank nearly all the water first, and then took the pills.

"God I hope I didn't embarrass myself last night?

"You were funny," she said.

"Who undressed me?"

"Faxon I can ride a twelve hundred pound horse over a six foot high fence, I think I'm capable of getting you out of your clothes and into bed."

Harper put a plate with bacon, eggs, and toast in front of him and laughed.

"That's not funny." His cell phone rang. "Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said.

"Faxon, this is John Walker, I thought I'd give you a call, we had a double murder last night. It was at an upper scale condo building in the downtown area, a man and his wife both shot in the head with a twenty two caliber unregistered gun with no serial numbers. Lab says it looks like acid that removed the numbers, they did a professional job. The gun was left at the scene, no prints and nothing taken from the home, so it wasn't a robbery. Here's the rub, the man had a tattoo on his right upper arm."

"Was it the same as the others," Faxon asked?

"Yea, just the same, the difference here is this guy was an older man, at least older than the other guys we've found with the tattoos. Another difference is this guy had money, lots of money. I found information in the condo that has him listed as CEO of a company called the Tempest Manufacturing Company. His names Turin Holmes, wife's name is Penton. You ever heard of him?"

"Yea John, I have. Listen I'm in Littleton, but I'm coming back into the city today I'll come by and explain."

"Looks like this guy is connected to the Marine Group, is that what you're saying?"

"Yea John, definitely," he said.

"You still with Harper Lewis, she's a good looking girl Faxon, personally I'm surprised she want's anything to do with you, I'm impressed." He laughed, "Call me when you two come back." He hung up.

"That was Detective Walker? What's going on," Harper asked?

"He was called to a condo building last night. Turin Holmes and his wife were murdered. It was a professional job, an unregister twenty two no serial numbers, gun left at the scene, nothing taken, and no finger prints."

"He was obviously a senior member, I'm guessing he's not the one in charge, but why the hell do you think they killed him?"

"I think he met with us on his own, without the groups approval, I thought from the time we left that the man was arrogant. He all but admitted he was involved flaunting that we couldn't touch him, that we couldn't link him to anything. He admitted to having government protection and connections, I think they killed him because he told us something or he did something that gave us too much information. I just need to think about it for a while, when my minds working better. One thing is for sure we need to go back to the city and talk to Detective Walker."

"They said goodbye to Rachel and Conner, Harper promising to meet them for dinner in the city soon. Faxon asked Harper to drive the minivan while he reclined the seat back and slept. They went back to the small apartment at Ned Devine's. The adjoining wall between the apartment and the old storage room had been taken down. The new addition had been cleaned, and freshly painted. It doubled the size of the apartment. It made the living room bigger and added another bedroom and small closet.

"Well you have your own closet now." Faxon neglected to say your own bedroom.

He got out a small bag from the bottom of the closet, before they went to see Detective Walker.

"What's up with the bag," she asked?

"It's my work stuff. I thought we'd go by Turin Holmes house. This is essential investigators stuff, fake ID's, a clip board, forms, cable TV, electric company, gas company, these things will get you into houses to plant, listening devises, cameras, I have GPS locators for vehicles. Then there's entry devices, lock pics, bump keys, strong magnets for window alarms, tools of the trade."

"You gonna teach me how to use all that stuff, I'm your partner remember?"

"You don't have an investigators license. It would be against the law," he teased with a crocked grin.

The car rental company came to get the minivan. Harper played with the bag of investigators stuff, she put one of the cameras on her hat and walked around the apartment while it was being broadcast to Faxon's laptop. They walked to the parking garage and drove the Jeep to the police station. Faxon called Lew and added Turin Holmes name to the list of individuals to investigate, Lew promised to have something for them tomorrow.

When they got to the police station the Sargent at the desk smiled at Harper, she had a face not many men forgot.

"This guy bothering you Miss," asked the Sargent.

"No sir, I know he looks suspicious but I can take care of him."

"He's in his office Bennett, go on back, you know the way, awful nice to see you again Miss. Lewis."

"Damn you come here once and they remember your name," Faxon said.

"What can I say? I've just got that kind of personality."

"It's not your personality their interested in, dirty old men."

"There's that jealousy again, I think I like it."

"Hey come on in sit down," Detective Walker said. "So tell me what do you know about Turin Holmes and his wife?"

Faxon let Harper explain what had happened, from the Lewis Construction office call to expecting to meet with a potential client, to the rapidly confrontational evening, and discovery that this man had knowledge of the murders and he had made it clear he wanted the Lewis property in the city.

John let them read what he had on the crime scene and research he'd done on Turin Holmes. The common link to the other dead men besides the tattoo was they were all in the same military company, Harper and Faxon left the detective promising to keep him informed.

"Well there's nothing more we can do on the Marine Group or Turin Holmes until we hear from Lew," Faxon said. "Then we can start investigating some of the other servicemen in the same company."

"And by investigating you mean following," Harper asked?

"Following sometimes leads to breaking and entering their residence and businesses, we'll be on the border of committing crimes ourselves, so if you want out now's the time."

"I'm in, whatever it takes to find the people involved in the death of my parents."

"And have you thought about where this may lead Harper? What if we find out who's responsible but can't prove it? We may be able to ruin their business, attract a lot of attention that they don't want, cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in deals with Islamic fundamentalist. But what would you call justice?"

"I keep thinking about what my father would do if it was me that was murdered? I don't think he'd be satisfied with just costing them some money. And I don't think he'd give a shit about the consequences, so if you want out then there may be a time you have to back off and let me handle it. Plausible deniability, you may have to testify you had no idea what I'd do."

"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes," he said.

"Ok, so what now?"

"Let's go see if we can find Anna Clark, we still have to check that out, you can get your first lesson in private investigating."

They sat along the curb down the street from the Clark house in the gated community. Faxon had showed Harper how to convince the entry electronics in the box to open the wrought iron gates automatically without authorization. He smiled at how excited she got at the simple procedure.

It was nearly dark when they saw a black expensive sedan pull into the garage. With binoculars Harper recognized Pierce Clark get out, and she also noticed the sports car parked in the garage before it closed.

"So they're both at home," Harper said. "In for the evening, all this waiting around for nothing, crap."

"Welcome to private investigating 101, sometimes it's a lot of sitting around. However we do know where she's going to be first thing in the morning. Let's get out of here before the neighborhood patrol spots us."

As they were leaving the community his cell phone rang, Harper picked it up. "Faxon Bennett Investigations," she said.

"Hey girl, this is Sam, I was calling Faxon to get a hold of you. Are you keeping him straight Danger?"

"Yea, what's up Sam?"

"I had a young man come into the office today. He heard we might be looking for an engineer. I told him we'd expect him to meet with prospective clients and get contracts and commitments signed. I'm not going to say anymore, I think you should interview the kid."

"He's young," Harper asked?

"Just meet with him, I'm not going to say anymore."

"Send his contact information to Faxon's phone," she said. "I love you old man, tell Carol I said hello."

"What was that about," Faxon asked?

"Sam had a person come in about Robert's job. I need to call him and meet with him. Would it be alright if I meet with him at Ned Devine's?"

"You're asking my permission? This is Lewis Construction stuff it's got nothing to do with me."

"We're partners aren't we?"

"How did that get started? (Pause) Ya were partners. And no I don't care if you meet with him at the bar."

They both smiled, at each other.

When they got back Faxon parked the Jeep back in its place in the parking garage and they walked to the back steps and went up to the apartment. It had become the preferred entry for the couple. It was much more private, only if someone was in the back of the bar near the storage room or walk-in refrigerator would they see them come in.

Faxon took a shower and Harper went and got him a beer then opened the bathroom door and handing it to him around the curtain.

"Hey, there's a naked man in here."

"I was just getting you a beer, calm down, it's not like I haven't seen you nearly naked, remember."

Harper shut the bathroom door and took a sip of her beer then moved her clothes into the other closet and took the cord down. She could hear him using her dryer for his hair. After he shaved Faxon came out with a towel wrapped around his waist, she couldn't help but glance at his six pack abs and chiseled chest. He went straight to the bedroom and shut the door. She sat on the couch with a beer and half a bag of chips.

"Hey there's more room in here," Faxon said from the bedroom.

"Yea I thought I'd make room and use that new closet."

She picked up his cell phone and dialed the phone number Sam had sent her for a Jason Walter.

"Can I speak to Jason Walter please," Harper said.

"This is Jason Walter."

"This is Harper Lewis, my general manager, Sam Shepard said you came into the office wanting to apply for the position we have open. The thing is Mr. Walter we haven't advertised for my husband's replacement, how is it you know about the position?"

"First thing Mrs. Lewis I offer my condolences on your loss, but please call me Jason. I wouldn't be worth hiring if I didn't know what's going on in our business, especially with the top five companies in our area. If we could just meet I think I could convince you I'm the right person for the job."

"Do you know where Ned Devine's Irish Pub is?"

"Yes, I do," he said.

"Well Jason, meet me upstairs, William the bartender will point me out. And Jason if you're one minute late don't show up. My father always said a man that's late can't be trusted."

"I was raised by a military man too, and I know what you look like Mrs. Lewis. Your images with your horses are everywhere."

Faxon wore a pair of khakis and a dark blue long sleeved, button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a pair of loafers and his hair combed.

"You look nice." Harper said.

She wore a white pleated sun dress, it came down to her knees, and it was snug around her narrow waist. It had a square top and two straps over the shoulders. Faxon, after instruction, had French braided her long hair, it hung down her back, and she wore a flat pair of white closed toe shoes.

"Damn we look good together."

"Ah, you know just what to say to a girl, when people see a good looking couple you know it's a compliment to the woman right."

"Shit you should have told me that before I got dressed," Faxon said with a grin.

In the bar he started to sit at his usual place. She put her arm through his and directed him with her to a table in the back. Lyn was their waitress, and she sat down and asked about their dinner at the Ritz. She commented on how good they looked that night, and she teased Faxon telling him he was becoming very domesticated. No one in the bar knew of Harper's family or let-on who she was, to them she was a business partner of Faxon's that happened to show up a few weeks ago and moved in with him. They knew the owner of the restaurant thought a lot of her, enough to expand Faxon's small apartment, but they hadn't figured out the relationship between the two. As much time as they spent together there was no intimacy, no special affection, they never saw them hug or kiss, or hold hands, and because of, stalker bitch, they all knew Faxon's rule.

* * *

Jason Walter stood out front of the restaurant, he checked his watch he had ten minutes. He knew it would only take a couple of minutes to walk upstairs and another couple of minutes to order a beer and get the bartender to point out where Harper Lewis was sitting. He wanted his timing to be perfect.

Almost every waitress in the bar at one time or another came over to the table and sat down with them for a quick hello and talk. They shared a bite or two of the appetizers along with a sip of beer when no one was looking. Harper had ordered several for the girls.

"Funny they drink my beer, I guess they don't respect me anymore," Faxon said.

"They do too they're just more comfortable with me around is all. You should be flattered. They're like sisters, they're happy for you is that so bad?"

"Depends on what they're happy for me about?"

Harper looked over at the bar.

"Don't tell me, that can't be him, shit Faxon look how young he is. What the hell could that old man have seen in him?"

They both saw Jason get William's attention, he stood there for a moment until William handed him a beer, the same brand Faxon and Harper drank. Then William pointed to the table in the back.

He wore black dress slacks, expensive shoes, not that Faxon could tell, but Harper knew they were Italian loafers. He wore a gray long sleeved shirt, no tie, and had dark black hair. He wore a military style haircut. That got Faxon's attention.

"Hi, I'm Jason Walter." Faxon and Harper both stood, he shook her hand first and wasn't surprised by her firm grip. Faxon was next and Jason thought whoever this guy is he didn't look happy.

"This is my business partner, Faxon Bennett," Harper said.

"I didn't know there were any more partners in Lewis Construction," Jason said. "Besides your deceased husband that is, I presumed his shares in the company went to you."

"Faxon is a partner in another interest of mine," Harper said. "You've mentioned my husband twice, once on the phone and again now, I'm going to presume since you knew Lewis Construction would need a new Engineer you know something of my situation."

"I do, but I don't want to bring up any sensitive subjects."

"You look like you've been in the military?" Faxon interrupted, he knew too much, Harper knew where he was going and let him pursue the questioning.

"I just graduated first in my class from Boston College," he looked at Harper as if he was continuing an interview with her.

"Was you're father in the military," Faxon asked a little more aggressively?

Jason looked from Faxon back to Harper.

"He was, he served twenty years, and he got out with a pension, and started his own business."

"Was he in the Marines," Faxon asked?

"He was sir, but that doesn't have anything to do with my capabilities Miss. Lewis if I could just explain."

"No, you can't," Faxon said. "Does your father have a tattoo on his right upper arm? And what does it look like?"

"He does have a tattoo, but not on his arm, the guys in his company all got the same tattoo, it's on his chest, and it's a simple Marine anchor insignia with USMC below it. I don't know what this is about Mr. Bennett, but if you'll just let me explain Miss. Lewis. My father served with your father, they were in the same company and you should know your father had that same tattoo. My Father was older, an officer, his first wife died and he remarried my mother several years his junior. I know about your company and your unfortunate situation with your husband because my father is in the business and I heard him, and everybody else talk about it. His company is Walter, Nash, and Prescott Contracting."

"Just a minute Faxon," Harper said. "Walter, Nash, and Prescott they're one of the largest high rise companies in the nation. I take it that's not the whole story?"

"Like I said I just graduated the top of my class, I have an engineering degree and an accounting degree, with a business minor. My father doesn't want to give me a chance. He wants me to work with blue prints in a lower level position. When I heard him talking about what had happened to you after the death of your mother and father, well I want that job so I can prove to him I'm better than a low level flunky looking at blueprints. I have to tell you the other consideration was how much he respected your father and you. That's all I've heard for years, was about Clayton Lewis and what a hell of a man he was. So if you'll give me a chance I'll prove to him, and you, that I'm the right person for the job. And Mr. Bennett I don't know why you're so angry with me but Miss. Lewis has my complete loyalty."

"Ok, I like the kid," Faxon said. "Lyn bring us all another round."

"You've got the job Jason, and just call me Harper, I'm not that much older than you, and just so you'll know Sam Shepard my General Manager was very impressed with you."

"Shit Harper," Jason said. "I never had an interview where I thought I might have my ass kicked."

Faxon laughed, they drank more beer and had something to eat and eventually Harper explained why she had killed her husband, and about the death of one of her horses. Jason eventually got the picture and realized Faxon was a dangerous guy that had some kind of motivation to make sure Harper wasn't hurt. But it was obvious to him they were more than just friends. He just wasn't sure what that was.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next morning Faxon's alarm went off at 5:30 am he rolled over and cut it off. Unlike other mornings when he woke up today he could feel Harper in the bed with him. Her warm body was near but they weren't touching.

"What the hell Faxon, why the alarm," she asked.

"We need to be in front of the Clark house before Anna leaves, this is the glamorous part of private investigating."

Faxon pulled on a pair of jeans beside the bed, he could feel Harper get up and walk out of the room in front of him wearing her night shirt. He saw her yawn then scratch her head as he walked out behind her. She went to the bathroom and he went and made coffee. When Harper came out she didn't bother to go to the bedroom she sat at the small table against the wall in the kitchen. Faxon set the first cup of coffee in front of her and made another one for him-self, he heard her sip the hot coffee.

"Come on, we'll stop and get something to eat on the way," he said.

As they walked out the back Faxon carried his bag of private detective stuff, Harper wore her disguise as they called it. Jeans, t-shirt, sunglasses, and her ball cap, Faxon picked up an empty pickle bucket on the way out. Before going down the stairs out the back he turned and locked the door. When they got to the garage he put the stuff in the back and drove the old Jeep to a drive through on their way to the gated community. Harper paid for the two breakfast sandwiches and two large coffees with extra napkins. And when they got to the gate, there were plenty of people going to work. Harper worked on the key pad before being seen, she was very proud of herself. They sat in the Jeep down the street in front of a house for sale.

"Faxon I have to go to the bathroom, you think this house is open? You think you could teach me how to work a lock?"

"What do think I brought the bucket for?"

"You can't be serious."

"Just get in the back and drop your drawers, I won't look. Don't tell me you never went outside when you were hunting."

"What about tissue?"

"Why do you think I asked for extra napkins?"

Harper had just got her jeans back up and crawled back into the front when the garage door at the Clark house opened. Faxon started the Jeep as Harper buttoned up, and the small sports car with Anna Clark drove down the street. The Jeep was no match for the sports car and soon she was out of sight.

"We should have driven the GTO," Faxon said.

"Look over there." The small sports car was parked in front of an expensive coffee chain. "I never could understand why people would pay seven dollars for a cup of coffee."

When Anna pulled out they followed, fortunately she didn't drive far and stopped at a dry cleaners. Faxon and Harper watched while Anna put the bagged laundry across the passenger's seat. Out of the parking lot they followed nearly losing her again. Harper used the binoculars from the go bag to watch her as she drove ahead of them. She pulled into the parking lot of a women's spa. Faxon caught up with her and parked in the space at the far end and waited.

"What if she's meeting someone inside Faxon?"

"How the hell do you figure that? No men are allowed in there."

"If the owner is a man do you think they wouldn't let him in? And it would be a perfect cover. Maybe whoever she's meeting pays off the manager and they get a room. They get to be with each other and eventually Pierce gives up and she gets a generous settlement. I think I should go in."

"What would you do? No you don't have any experience, what if the guy gets physical, believe me they often do."

"Wait a second. You think I can't handle myself?"

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine, so tell me what I need to do, take pictures or something?"

Faxon got the digital camera out of the bag. "You have to get pictures of their faces. If you don't in court they'd just say that it wasn't them. The only exception is a tattoo, one that's unique to the investigated person just stick with the picture of their face, and they need to be in the act, so if you see 'em, make sure you wait until, well they're in the act. Then get the hell out of there."

"I'll be fine." Harper put the small digital camera into her back pocket and walked into the front door.

"Can I help you Miss." asked the counter girl?

"I was thinking about a massage and maybe some time in the sauna, but this is the first time I've been here could someone show me around?"

"Sure if you'll give me a minute, I'll go get one of the towel girls."

Harper looked down the hall and then went down a few doors, she checked the first two rooms and they were empty. The third door was just cracked and she could hear a young woman talking.

"God I am so tired of that son of a bitch," she said. "I don't have sex with him at all, and he still tries to kiss me. I refused ever since he cut my allowance. He'll get tired soon enough and give me the divorce, and then we can be together all the time. But that's enough about him, now kiss me, and I'll help you out of that uniform."

The door closed just as the front desk girl came back down the hall. She had a young Asian girl with her. Harper didn't hear the door lock.

"If you'll follow Miss, I show you around," said the young Asian girl as she smiled. "We have good massage, you like. You very pretty," the young girl laughed. She showed Harper a room with a large massage table. "I make you feel very good." The small girl smiled and took Harper by the hand.

"No, I don't think so." She was wondering if she had given Anna enough time. "You know I think I would like to see one more room before I make up my mind."

Harper walked back to the room where she had heard Anna talking, she reached into her back pocket and held the small digital camera in her hand ready to click off some images. When she got to the door she reached for the handle and the small Asian girl tried to stop her.

"This room busy, we go to empty room."

Harper pushed the door open quickly and Anna was on top of one of the tables, naked, and so was the Asian girl beneath her. Harper clicked off six pictures as they both looked up at the tall blonde that had suddenly interrupted them.

"You bitch," Anna yelled, realizing the implications of the images. "Stop her."

The small Asian girl grabbed her arm and Harper walked down the hall toward the front pulling her along with her. By then Anna was coming out of the room naked and mad, her lover right behind her.

"You fucking bitch drop that camera," Anna yelled.

Harper was smiling and she put the camera in her back pocket and pushed the small girl that had been holding her by the arm to the floor. Then she looked at Anna.

"Do you really think you can stop me from leaving?"

Her Asian lover, still naked, stepped around her and took a quick step toward Harper and leapt into the air karate style to kick her. Harper caught her foot and pushed up as hard as she could, it sent the girl's head to the floor and nearly knocked her out. Harper laughed then mockingly bowed respectively and walked out the front door with Anna still yelling at her.

"I got what we needed, let's go, you're not going to believe this."

Faxon drove out of the parking lot and into traffic. They had to go back to the small apartment before going to see Pierce Clark. The images would need to be downloaded to his laptop then onto a flash drive to give to the customer.

"Check 'em, you need to make sure they're clear images," Faxon said as he drove. "How many did you get?"

Harper was still laughing, she hadn't told him the circumstances yet, but she still felt the adrenalin-rush of breaking into the room where two people were having sex.

"I got six, but they all look good, and don't worry its plan to see what's going on, and the faces are clear. They'll look better when seen on a screen bigger than 1 inch."

"Only six, crap Harper that's cutting it kind of close, did the guy try to take the camera from you? Most times I get twice that many. I understand it was your first time, it seems like time stands still, and then they're yelling and trying to take the camera."

"Harper laughed again. "It was something like that, but the guy didn't try to take the camera from me, there was no guy, that's why no one's been able to catch her with another man. It was another woman."

"You've got to be kidding me? Show me, come on. Show me one of the images."

"You're driving, ok, just a minute, you're gonna run off the road and wreak just to see two women lying on top of each other naked."

Faxon laughed, then picked up his cell phone and pulled up Pierce Clark's cell number.

"Mr. Clark, Faxon Bennett here. You may be getting a call or a visit from your wife very soon. I have the images you need. The way this usually works is they get to you before I do, she may try to convince you to give her another chance, or it's not what it looks like. I'll be over to the office right after I make a stop."

"I'm very surprised Mr. Bennett, I mean when I hadn't heard from you in a few days, well none of the others had any luck. I'll be expecting you, oh and Mr. Bennett, will Miss. Lewis be with you? I was hoping to talk to her again about our arrangement."

"Yes Mr. Clark, she'll be with me."

"I don't know what he was more excited about getting the images, or seeing you again. I think when he looks at you he sees one huge dollar sign."

They went by the apartment and Faxon downloaded the images onto the laptop while Harper called the production company and an office supply company. She arranged to have the office furniture and all the items she had ordered, contracts, banking information, brochures, large drawings of the buildings and condos, and the model with the cut out, she had it all delivered today.

"Damn Faxon you still looking at those images, you want to take that to the bathroom?"

"I'm ready. I just wasn't in a hurry. You were on the phone."

"They drove to the Singleton building and rode the elevator up to the sixth floor, and then they walked down the hall to office six twelve. Jacklyn stood and shook Harpers hand again holding it a little too long.

"Harper you didn't call me," Jacklyn said.

"I'm afraid my business keeps me busy."

"What am I, chopped liver," Faxon said.

"It's ok, I understand," she let go of Harper's hand. "Can't blame a girl for trying," she said. "Mr. Clarks expecting you his wife's here."

When they walked into the office Mr. Clark stood and shook hands with Faxon first then Harper, Anna stood behind the desk and over to the side her arms crossed with a scowl on her face.

Harper pointed at her. "You say one word to me and I'll kick your ass bitch, I didn't come here to take any shit from you."

Faxon, Pierce, and Harper still stood. Faxon handed Pierce the flash drive.

"What you do with that is up to you, but we had an agreement."

"Yes of course Mr. Bennett." Pierce handed Faxon a check already made out for five thousand dollars. "Miss. Lewis I was hoping to discuss the issue of the presale of the condo units?"

"I can make you an offer but I have to tell you it's not negotiable. Commission only, I'll give you .5% on each unit sold."

"Miss. Lewis that's quite a bit below real estate standards," Pierce Clark said.

"Pierce, I don't need a licensed agent or a broker to presell my own units. I could put a used car salesman in that office. I'll make the deal a little better, move your office to the one I'm leasing and you want have to pay anything to run your business. And remember half a percent on each unit is five thousand there's two hundred units, one hundred per building, and they'll sell in less than a year. That's over a million dollars in commission. I believe your friendly with Lisa Colman, and she's successful, attractive and single."

Anna clenched her fist so tight her knuckles were white.

"Miss. Lewis you have a deal," Pierce Clark said. They shook hands and Harper explained everything was being delivered today, and they left his office."

Harper and Faxon walked back to the elevator. They hadn't said anything to each other yet. Faxon thought about the last time they had been in that elevator. Harper turned to face him and she gently pushed him against the wall.

"So you have my check." Harper held both his hands down by his sides and leaned against him. He could feel her chest against his.

"How do you figure," Faxon asked?

"We're partners, and I got the photos, so we should split fifty, fifty."

"You don't have a private investigators license so that makes you an investigator apprentice, and tell me again how we became partners?"

"Well then you tell me am I a client." Harper asked right next to his ear, her breath on his neck. "You never asked me for a fee."

"You know the rules. No, you're not a client."

Harper gripped his hands tight and kissed him hard on the lips, when the door to the elevator opened she pulled away and walked out, leaving him standing in the elevator smiling. A lady held the door open before it closed.

"Are you getting out sir?"

They really didn't talk much on the way back to the small apartment. When they got there Faxon opened the small window in the kitchen, Harper had already sat down at the table and he set an open beer in front of her then sat in the other chair. He slid the folded check across the table toward her.

"I was teasing you," Harper said, "well not about everything, I don't need the money. Hell I would've paid you that much for the experience, I think I'm hooked, it was so much fun, what an adrenaline high."

She pushed the check back across the table toward him.

"You don't know the worth of Lewis Construction," she said. "Or my personal worth for that matter, and I know you don't care, if you did you would have asked me for a fee."

"Your right, I don't care about how much money you have."

She got another beer for him and herself. "I'm going to take a shower, let's stay here tonight we can cook those pork chops."

She was in the shower and Faxon opened the door just a crack. "Hey there's an old movie on tonight, a John Wayne movie, listen we're almost out of beer I'm going down to the grocery store you need anything?"

"Why don't you let me go while you're in the shower," she said. "I need some female things, unless you want to pick them up for me?"

"No way, that's where I draw the line. You can get your own feminine hygiene products."

They broiled pork chops and cooked quick rice and watched the old John Wayne movie, they both sat on the couch Harper eventually put a pillow in his lap and laid down. Soon she fell asleep. Faxon's cell phone rang and he had to get up to get to his phone on the table.

"Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said. It was 10:30 pm. "Lew, I'm glad you called, I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"You need to come see me," Lew said. "And bring some more money, I had a hell of a time, it was challenging to say the least. These guys have good IT people. They tried to hack me to find out who was attaching their system. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

"I'll come early, see you tomorrow."

"So he's got some information for us," Harper asked?

"Yea and it wasn't easy, he wants more money. He has an interesting story for us too, seems they tried to find out who was hacking their system."

"Tomorrow early. I'm going to bed," she said.

Faxon watched the late news before going into the bedroom and slipping under the covers. The next morning he woke to the smell of bacon. He thought about how much he enjoyed their routine.

"We taking the Jeep today," she asked?

"Yea I guess, why?"

"I was thinking about buying a car, if you had your choice for the perfect private detective vehicle what would it be? A pickup, a sports car, an SUV, a small car, what," Harper asked?

"I don't know, I haven't thought about it, an SUV would give you enough room to carry guns, and supplies, you could pull a horse trailer with it, if you got one with a big enough engine. But you already have a truck."

"Yea but it's too big for around the city, so an SUV then, why don't we go buy one after we see Lew, that way we won't have to keep borrowing the Jeep, it's not that comfortable."

"Is that what you want," He asked?

"Yea, it's what I want."

When they got to Lew's house they both stood on the porch and after ringing the buzzer they both stood close and looked up at the camera and smiled mockingly. They heard the buzz that meant they could push the metal door open and come in. Through the maze of stacked electronic equipment into the kitchen Lew waited at the Formica topped sixties kitchen table. He looked for Harper walking behind Faxon and smiled when he saw her with a large bag of groceries, and a twelve pack of beer in her other hand. Lew pointed to a thick file lying on the counter beside an old drip coffee maker as he looked through the bag to see what Harper had brought him this time. He was somewhat agoraphobic and never went out having everything delivered to his door.

"Please don't do anything to make her leave you," Lew said. "I put the files in my own order so let me start with the first one. The three guys that were shot in the warehouse down on the docks at inner harbor, all three men had been arrested in New York for hijacking semi-trucks before. They all served in the Marines overseas and they all served in the same company, E- Company, or also called, Echo Company. I know I'm skipping around but it's my method."

Faxon handed the file he was looking at to Harper.

"The man's name you recently gave me, Turin Holmes, he was in the service, marines, for twelve years, reached the rank of Major, and was also in, E- Company, he served overseas and was implicated in a robbery of a Jewish temple, but not convicted. Two men under his command were found guilty of the crime, the stolen gold and jeweled artifacts were never recovered."

"Now Ensign Jessie Walker died in a head on car crash," Lew stopped for a minute and noticed Harper staring at him hanging on his every word. "He was a drug addict and an alcoholic. He was four times the legal limit for alcohol at the time of the crash. He was also under the influence of heroine. His wife and two daughters lived in public housing and were nearly starving to death, and that was in a report by a local social services representative I dug up. After the crash they disappeared. Ensign Walker served in the Marines for six years, and was in Echo Company. His commanding officer was Major Turin Holmes."

"Richard Mathis also was in E-company, and served under Major Turin Holmes, and cell phone records prove that he had spoken to someone at an address in an office building where an office is leased by the Marine Group."

"I was able to hack the Marine Group's system three different times, each time I had to back out because they were getting to close to finding out who was hacking their system, their good. I got a partial list of members, and Turin Holmes was on that list. The Marine Group also employ's ex-marines to serve as security, body guards, and specialist, for Arabic clients overseas," Lew finished.

"I also have a list of service men that were in Echo Company that are located along the east coast and a list of specialist that served. There's four snipers, but only two in the Boston area, and only one entry specialist, Ensign Ronald Beale. He's working for a gun shop that has a contract to ship arms to a Saudi named Kasam Rashid Kolmani, listed as CEO of the Marine group."

"Ok, all of these guys were all in Echo Company, that could be anywhere from 80 to 250 men, but we can eliminate anyone not on the east coast. We know Turin Holmes was a member of the Marine Group and was killed because he couldn't resist going after Harper. We can find the entry specialist that killed Martin Samuels, and we can probably find the sniper that killed Parker Doss."

"And my horse," Harper said. "In the attempt to kill me, nearly killing my friend Kate, we also know someone must have taken care of Ensign Walker's wife and daughters after he volunteered to kill my parents. We need to find them."

"Is there anything else Lew, anything we should know that we didn't talk about, any special insights," Faxon asked?

"There's men at the top of this Marine Group that are pulling the strings, rich men, men with influence, so much so that they can compel men that served under them to commit murder and die if they're found out. They had to have been commanding officers, in E-Company, and it'll be difficult to find anybody that would testify against them."

"Then they'll just have to die," Harper said.

Faxon and Lew looked at Harper, she didn't look like a killer, but they both knew she was serious. They left Lew's house and drove back toward the city without much conversation.

"Stop at that new car dealer we passed on the way out here," she said. "Unless you know of a particular dealer or model you prefer."

"It's your car, it's your choice, that dealer only has expensive foreign cars."

"I've always wanted a Porsche, I like that new SUV."

"Damn thing cost as much as a house," he said.

When they got to the dealer Harper walked into the show room, and into the manager's office.

"How long will it take you to prepare a black Porsche Cayenne loaded with everything, full of gas, with a tag and title, it'll be a cash transfer."

"Thirty minutes Ma'am," the man said.

Harper called the bank and arranged the cash transfer and thirty minutes later she was following Faxon back to the small apartment. She parked in the garage where Ronald McFarland kept his car collection.

"So how do we find Linda Walker and her two daughters, Katie and Mindy," Harper asked as they walked up the back stairs. "They have to go to school somewhere, and Linda Walker would have to file taxes."

"There's vehicle registrations voting rolls, social security, census, but we don't know where to look. If we have to search half the country that could take time, and then we don't know that she'll help us. Just to get a name we might already have."

"Ok Mr. private detective, who do we go after first?" She got them both a beer and they sat down on the couch, the difference today was she sat close. Her legs tucked under her and one arm around his shoulders.

"We track the shooter, the sniper, we have two names, we find them and follow them, when we believe we got our guy we wait till he's gone and get in. Find information, or his rifle. Believe me these guys name the damn things, it'll be in his bedroom guaranteed. We match the bullet then we've got our guy."

"I hate this couch," she said, "let's buy another one. Take me out tonight, I don't feel like cooking, and I don't want Shepard's pie either, let's have Italian."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The next morning Faxon sat at the small table and read the files Lew had put together, it was all the available information that concerned the two marine snipers that lived in the Boston area. Harper had fried some sausage and added it to the scrambled eggs with some sharp cheddar cheese. Then she set a plate in front of Faxon with a cup of black coffee just the way he liked it, strong. Harper sat down and had a plate with a smaller portion she drank her coffee the same way.

"This is good, but you're making me fat."

"I'm glad you brought that up, I'm used to working out, you're a distraction, a good distraction but still we should both be working out. You have a place you go to around here? I don't mean a spin class where you go to look at the girl's asses. I need a free weight gym, maybe somewhere that has martial arts training. If you want I can find us a place?"

"I've been going to a gym you'll approve of, maybe later today, and you're the distraction," he said. "Listen to this," Faxon ate and read from the files on the two snipers. "Lucan Lane, ex-marine, lives in Boston and he has an apartment address, list his employment as a stock trader, married and has a ten year old son. Our other guy, Race Thorpe, employed as a machinist working at a shop just outside of town, doesn't list his address, now as a private detective which one is our guy?"

"Very funny, so this is the son of a bitch that killed my horse, trying to kill me," Harpers face was red, she was instantly angry. "I guess it just became real. So we go to his work and follow him."

"Yea, we follow him. Listen I know you're angry, but we have to do this my way, to tell the truth you scare me sometimes. You can't let your emotions get in the way. We need this guy to testify against his superiors, the ones in charge, they're the ones were after."

"I get it Faxon," Harper spoke with sharpness. She got up and went to get dressed.

In a few minutes they were going down the back stairs and crossing the street to the garage. Faxon walked beside Harper, she carried the bag with the guns.

"Here," Harper threw Faxon a set of keys to the new SUV, "you drive, and keep them, it came with two sets."

"Why don't you drive, it's your car," Faxon said.

"Does that mean you won't ever drive the damn thing?"

"No, I'll drive. Damn you're cranky, are you short because of your woman time of the month thing?"

"Don't ever say that again."

Faxon adjusted the seat and mirrors and started the car.

"If we go to gym and they have a mat, I am so gonna make you pay for that," She looked over at him as they drove. "I'm sorry, we ok?"

"Yea we're ok. You're going to have to put in the address to that machinist shop in the GPS. It's out in Brookline. Wow this Porsche has really got the power doesn't it?"

Harper used the GPS in the SUV and they found Smith's Machine Shop. It was well off the beaten path. It had a large rollup door that was open but as they drove by they didn't see anyone through the opening. There were three old cars that obviously hadn't run in a long time parked in the driveway and a large metal rack with metal pipe, angle iron, and steel rods stacked on it. The only vehicle that looked like it would run was a 1975, GMC pickup that had rusted out rear quarter panels.

"Were going to have to park somewhere and then walk back to see if he's there," Faxon said.

"Can't we just go in and look for him," she asked?

"None of my fake ID's will work here, cable man, electric company, gas, I just don't know what I'd say if I went in. We don't want to spook this guy. There's a grocery store, let's park there."

They parked the SUV and walked back down the road and before they got to where the shop was Faxon led Harper off the road into a field. They were able to get within fifty feet of the side of the building.

"I brought a GPS tracker if I can sneak over and put it on that pickup truck we can go back to the car and wait for it to move."

Faxon made his way over to the old truck and reached up under, he attached the magnet on the inside of the front fender. He made his way back to Harper and they walked back to the car. Faxon used his hand held locator from his bag and sat back and waited. At 4:10 pm the GPS locator showed movement. The old truck was moving away from them but he quickly caught up. They stayed back so they didn't look like they were following. From that far away they couldn't tell who was driving, they didn't know what he looked like but they knew his age.

The truck pulled off the road and started down a dirt lane, there were three mail boxes out by the road, so Faxon followed. Harper had the binoculars out and was looking at the truck as it turned in.

Faxon stopped, "can you see from here?"

Harper looked at the house. It was an old frame home with peeling green paint there was a porch with a rocking chair and a small table next to it.

"I can see him, he's getting out, shit Faxon it's an old bald guy, must be Mr. Smith."

"Let's get back and see if the door is open, he could still be there."

They drove back leaving the GPS locator, and the large roll up door was closed. They kept driving, going past the shop back toward the grocery store, and then they saw a guy walking along the road. He wore a pair of dirty jeans and military style boots he had on a long sleeved flannel shirt. After they went past Harper looked back at him with the binoculars.

"Look at his hands," Faxon said, "does he have greasy hands, you know dirty?"

"Yea he does, he's about the right age too, it's him," she said.

They parked back at the grocery store in a spot where they could see him walking their way. In the same strip center with the grocery store was a small bar, the name on the window was Tom's. They watched Race Thorpe walk through the front door.

"Ok what the hell do we do now," Harper asked? "This guy might stay here a while. I'm just shaking Faxon, being this close to the guy that shot my horse, and I'm not forgetting about that old man in Boston."

"Let's think about this for a minute, we could hang around and wait him out, see where he goes. We could go in there, have a few beers maybe have something to eat, take the chance he doesn't see you staring at him, or you losing it and stabbing him in the neck. He wasn't driving and his only address was the machine shop, he could be living there, a room in the back or something. If he lives there then the rifles there, I'd have to get in, shouldn't be hard, find the rifle, should be near where he sleeps. Then find his ammo, should be with the rifle, and shoot a round off, and be able to retrieve the bullet. Then get out of there before he comes back, and then put everything back the way it was so he doesn't know anyone fired the rifle."

"Do it," she said. "This is our chance."

"Are you going to be able to do this? You're going to have to go in there, play something loud on the jute box, and turn it up if you can. Play pool or something, and buy the bar a round, maybe more than one you have to keep him here, and try not to kill him. You've got your burner phone if he leaves call me. And wipe that make up off, keep your hat on, you don't want to look too good."

Harper had never been so nervous, she got out and Faxon drove toward the machine shop. She had her 9mm Walther PPK in the back of her pants. When she walked through the door it was dark and it took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust. She wore her hat pulled down low over her eyes but it was obvious to the bartender and the six guys sitting at the bar this was a woman. She saw Race Thorpe down at the far end with a beer in front of him.

"What can I get for you sweetie," the bar tender asked?

Harper coughed and ordered a domestic draft beer, then sat down away from the men. Two guys in there fifties sat next to each other. They whispered then laughed. She put a twenty on the bar in front of her and asked for some change. There was a jute box against the wall just like Faxon had said, and she put five dollars in quarters in it and played several different country music songs. Harper looked around on the floor after dropping a quarter and saw the volume adjustment just around the back. An older man said something about liking the music she chose when she sat down.

"Bartender a round for the house," she put another twenty down, and everyone thanked her. Race lifted his glass."

Faxon picked the padlock on the side walk-through door, it was the only entry door they used, and it probably was the one Race Thorpe went in and out of. Inside it didn't take long for him to find a small room in the back, there was a single bed against the wall, a lamp, and a television on a stand next to a fan. Old car parts and motorcycle parts were everywhere, and Faxon looked in the most obvious place, under the bed. There was a gun case, he pulled it out and set it on the bed and opened it. There it was a Remington customized M40a3 with a scope, and a suppressor, with two boxes of shells, 7.62x51mm written on the box.

He called Harper's cell phone, "I found the gun." She wanted to say something but the fact was he had found the rifle, and it was the right one, this had to be him.

"Fuck you ass hole." She hung up the cell phone and put it in her front pocket. When she turned back around she yelled another round for the house."

"You got the money girl?" Asked the bar tender.

She put two more twenties down on the bar.

"I guess you got the money," he said.

"Not my money, it's that ass holes money," she yelled, and everyone laughed.

* * *

Faxon put a round in the chamber and locked the bolt, out back there was an empty grease barrel full of water, he could fire the rifle into the water and he'd be able to reach into the barrel and retrieve the bullet. He'd be wet but it would be worth it. When he was done he took the time to clean the rifle and put everything back the way it was. He drove back down the road to the shopping center and parked away from the front, then called Harper. In a few minutes she jumped into the SUV, shaking with excitement.

"You got it," she asked? "Why are you wet?"

"Yea I got it, I fired the rifle into a barrel of water so I could reach in and get it," Faxon handed the bullet to Harper.

"And it was a Remington, just like the one the lab said fired the round," she asked?"

"Yea, it was a modified Remington M40a3, military issue, he's our guy."

Harper through her arms around Faxon's neck and kissed him, he nearly ran off the road, she sat back holding the bullet in her right hand looking at it, but she still held his hand on the console.

On the way back they talked about what they would have for dinner, they stopped and got Chinese food and took it back to the small apartment. Harper put the small bottle with the bullet from her horse beside the bullet Faxon had discharged from the rifle. Then sat on the couch beside him, the late night news was on, and Harper was exhausted from the adrenaline and excitement of the day. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"It was so weird being that close to a real killer, he never said more than thanks for the beer. He killed Mr. Doss from several hundred yards away, no telling how far away he was when he shot my horse on the run. He must be an incredible marksman, and I'd love nothing more than to see him dead. But that wouldn't get the man that gave the order to kill my mother and father. I'm tired, every night you wait till I'm asleep before you come into the bedroom. I won't rape you. I'm still a grieving widow you know," Harper smiled.

The next morning as usual she was up and breakfast was cooking, the two bullets were still on the table.

"I was thinking I guess we need to use a private ballistics lab for the analysis, right," she asked?

"Yea, then we can go see Detective Walker after we get the results, and I thought we'd go to the gym after we drop them off."

Faxon's cell phone rang. "Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said.

"Mr. Bennett, Pierce Clark here, I need to get a message to Harper, I came by the office yesterday and everything was here, and I started putting the large pictures on the wall. I came in this morning and all the brochures, large drawings and pictures, and the contracts are all gone. The model of the towers is smashed, someone broke in through the back door, and the police were here when I came in this morning."

"I'll get the message to her and be right there."

Faxon explained to Harper what had happened, they both got dressed, both of them took gym bags with them expecting to go and workout sometime today. Faxon drove the SUV while Harper called the production company and ordered all the materials that they had just made. She explained what had happened, then to the lab first to drop off the two bullets to Faxon's friend, then to the store front. The police had come before daylight when the alarm had gone off. The crime lab technicians had dusted for finger prints and where gone by the time Harper and Faxon pulled up.

Lisa Colman was talking to Pierce Clark. Jacklyn was talking to Tanya, one of Lisa's sales girls. Lisa and Pierce were about the same age and by the way they were laughing they seem to be getting along better than just friends.

"Harper I have my maintenance man cleaning the place up, it's a good thing you've got Faxon to hunt these guys down."

"Did someone see who it was Lisa," Faxon asked?

"Better than that Faxon dear, I've got the best damn security system money can buy. They may have gotten away before the police responded to the alarm, but I have hidden cameras everywhere."

Harper, Faxon, Lisa, and Pierce went into her office and she accessed the digital record of the cameras during the early morning hours before dawn.

"Don't ever bring a woman in there after hours and bend her over the desk Pierce, you'll give me something to show my friends," Lisa laughed then winked at him.

"Maybe you could show me what you mean Lisa," he said.

The digital record showed the two men's faces close up there'd be no mistaking who they were if Faxon could find the right people to identify the two men. One of the men had a tank top on and Harper and Faxon both could easily see the tattoo on his arm. This was the Marine group still trying to stop the Lewis Towers from being built.

Lisa downloaded the recording onto a flash drive and Faxon went to a print shop to have some pictures made of the two men.

"So what are we going to do now," Harper asked?

"Let's go get a workout in while we're waiting on the ballistics report, and I have an idea of where to go to find these guys. There's a bar down in the inner harbor area where a lot of ex-military guys hang out, if they're not there someone will recognize them. But the best time to go will be tonight."

Faxon drove to the gym and they both carried in their bags, Harper changed into a pair of tight yoga pants, a tight sports bra with a t-shirt over it, she was barefoot. Faxon wore tennis shoes, a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt. They went through a free weight upper body workout. Three sets each body part, chest, back, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Then they worked their legs out on a hack sled, Faxon used heavier weight but he was surprised by how strong Harper was, and when they finished three sets she wanted to move to the mat area. Faxon had seen the pictures at Harper's home and knew she had trained in cross martial arts and weapon training. She insisted they both go through a series of stretching exercises, before squaring off.

"I know you're trained in martial arts Harper, but I've been trained Special Forces, it's different we're trained to injure, to kill, it's not sparing."

"I'll be very surprised if you even touch me, I promise I won't hurt you."

She began to circle, she flicked a left back fist at him and Faxon slapped it away. He didn't take any kind of defensive stance, and turned with her as she circled. She flicked out another left back hand and when he went to slap it away she turned, took a step toward him and grabbed his wrist with her right hand, then spun into him, she hit him in the stomach with an elbow, dropped to the mat and slid between his legs, grabbing him by the ankles then jerking. Faxon went down face first onto the mat, Harper was on his back. She held his right wrist, put her foot on the floor up under his armpit and bent it behind his back. That was the way she had dislocated the big guy's shoulder at the bar.

Harper quickly let Faxon up and over the next thirty minutes she schooled him in her ability to fight someone much stronger. Even when he got his arms around her she always had a way of getting him to let her go. He was impressed, those weren't just pictures and awards at her house they were years of training. She moved with grace, fluid like water, turning, twisting, kicking, pulling her punches, like a dance, she definitely had skills.

"I was trained by a Master, Hiro Matsuta," Harper said, as they drove back to the apartment. "Knives, sword, staff, anything you can pick up can be a weapon, but he didn't push me as hard as my father did. We were fighting one day and he gave me a black eye, I was fourteen, I really thought my mother was going to kill him. It was the only time I saw how tough my mother could be, and how scared of her my father was."

Faxon looked over at Harper as they pulled into the parking garage, he saw her wipe away a tear, he wanted to say something but thought better of it, and instead he tried to make a joke.

"We'll I know now to never piss you off."

Instead of laughing she wiped her face with the back of her hand and looked at him.

"I would never hurt you, no matter what you did."

They ate soup and sandwiches with a beer, sliced ham and pastrami from the grocery store deli, with a thick slice of Swiss cheese, the soup was tomato. They waited till 8:30 pm before going to the Inner harbor area to the Anchor bar and grill, a place where Faxon knew ex-military guys hung out. It was also a place where the three men that were involved in the hijacking of semi-trucks went, and Lew had found a reference to the bar in phone call transcripts between the men.

"Do you have your gun," Faxon asked?

"Yea and pictures of both men, you already told me we're not going to show them around until we give it time to see if they're in there or they come in. If they do then we watch for a little while to see who they meet, then we come back to the car and call the police."

"I'll let you go in first, that way we don't look like we're together. It'll give us a chance to cover the whole bar that way."

Harper walked in through the front door of the bar, she had on her worn out jeans with the holes in the knees, tennis shoes, a t-shirt and a long sleeved flannel shirt over that with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Her hair was braided and she had her ball cap on. The room was dark, and the bar was in the center of the large room. Three bartenders worked furiously to get drinks and beers for the large crowd, two of the bartenders were girls, both tall and busty their low cut t-shirts didn't hide much. All the tables and booths were full, every stool around the bar was occupied and plenty of people stood around talking. Harper noticed there were about a third of the crowd was women, middle aged, rough looking girls some with leather jackets. Two women with worn jean jackets sat at the bar right in front of her, on their backs it said Renegades with a skull and crossed bones it marked them as biker chicks. She walked up behind them and ordered a beer over their heads then reached between and handed the barmaid a twenty.

Both of them moved around on their stools and looked at her, "I don't remember ever seeing you in here," said one of the women.

"I'm looking for a guy I meet, he said he came here."

"You don't look the type, too fresh."

"I helped him with a B&E job, I have my skills despite what I look like," Harper said.

"What skill do you have that a hard head would need," said the other woman.

"If he doesn't want to get caught, he'd need someone to disable the alarm, and get around any hidden security cameras, open a safe, and slip out unseen or heard."

The barmaid handed her the beer and put the change on the bar. "Get two for my new friends," she said.

"Ok, I'm impressed, so what was it you got away with?"

"It was a rich bitch living in a condo off 1 Park street, a shit load of jewelry, the asshole was supposed to fence the shit and give me my cut. I haven't heard from him in three days, and now he won't answer his cell phone. I've worked with him before but nothing this big, fucker's cut me out, but I know how to take care of him."

Harper turned around with her back to the two women and lifted her shirt just enough to show the handle of her gun.

Faxon walked in, he saw Harper talking to two rough looking women with Renegade colors on and went the other way. He looked at every face he passed hopping to see the two ex-Marines as he worked his way around to the back of the room. The brightest part of the bar was where the two lighted pool tables were. Two men played on each table and the room was full around them, cash was on the edge of the tables.

He ordered a beer over the heads of people sitting at the bar and the barmaid handed it to him, he gave her a twenty and said, "Keep the change." He stood against the wall watching the pool tables and looking around the room hopping to see the two guys. He noticed a woman about thirty walk toward him stepping around people in the crowded room. She was petite, five foot two, slim with double ds. She wore boots, jeans, and a t-shirt with no bra. Her hair was jet black and she wore a lot of makeup.

"Hey, you look like you need some company good-looking?" She stood close. "How about you buy me a drink and we'll talk about what comes up." She rubbed against his groin.

"What are you drinking?"

"Jack, neat," she said.

Faxon went to the bar and ordered another beer and the Jack. He looked over and saw Harper staring at him with a scowl on her face. He laughed and gave the barmaid a twenty she smiled and didn't give him any change.

* * *

"Hey is that the guy," asked one of the Renegade women? "We'll help you if it is."

"No, that's not him, I thought it was but that guys to damn ugly to be the guy I was working with," she said.

* * *

"Here you go," Faxon said as her gave the girl the straight Jack Daniels.

She stood close and stood on her toes and whispered in his ear. "If you got a hundred we can go out to your car and you can ride me." She smiled.

"I'm waiting for someone sweetheart. Maybe you should try someone else."

"How about fifty," she asked?

"No thanks, I'm waiting on someone, it's important."

The busty little girl looked around until she found another potential John. "Thanks for the drink babe." Then she walked away toward a man across the bar. Faxon looked back over at Harper and she was still talking to the two rough looking women and buying them drinks. Then he saw them walk through the door, it was both of them. Harper's back was turned so she didn't see the two men, and they didn't see her. He moved around the bar behind them watching to see if they would talk to someone.

Harper was laughing at a joke one of the girls had told and one of the women's old man walked up after losing his game of pool and twenty dollars. He wore a jean jacket with the Renegades logo on the back. He was a big guy 6'8" three hundred pounds at least. He had long hair and a long beard a bandana around his head and a primary motorcycle chain for a belt. Harper bought them all another round of beer. They were making introductions when Harper noticed Faxon was no longer talking to the sexy little whore and looked around the room until she saw him. His attention was on two men making their way to the back of the room, and then she saw them, the two men from the video at the storefront.

Harper said excuse me and walked around the bar the other way watching the two ex-marines. She could feel someone behind her and turned around. The biker was standing there looking over her head at the two guys that she had seen.

"One of those guys the one that ripped you off," he said in a deep gravelly voice? "I can make the mother fucker pay, for a small finder's fee."

"It's ok, I just want my money, probably just a misunderstanding is all, I have my way of handling this," Harper told him.

When she turned back around both men were looking right at her, and the big biker behind her. They obviously recognized her, one of the men started pushing his way through the bar toward the front door, and the other one pushed people out of the way going as fast as he could to the back of the room. Harper followed the man going for the front door.

The other one made it around Faxon in the crowded bar. He was the smaller of the two men and made it to the back door faster than he did. When Faxon come out he could just see the man running toward the main street and he took off after him.

Harper ran through the front door following the ex-Marine. She was only three steps behind him when he turned down the alley, she nearly ran into his fist as he tried to hit her. She ducked and put her shoulder into his body and they both went down, she rolled to her feet and he started to get up, she kicked him in the face. He groaned and blood sprayed from his nose, he charged at her. They were ten feet away from each other, she dove at his feet and he went down again, and she was up before he was. The alley being in the dock area was full of trash, garbage cans, old pieces of pipe, and rebar. The big Biker came around the corner just as Harper kicked the man in the throat and he fell backwards, and didn't move again. A piece of rebar went through his back and exited through his chest, a foot long piece of the bloody bar stuck up in the air.

"Damn girl you killed the son of a bitch," said the big biker, "I'll swear it was self-defiance."

* * *

Faxon turned down the block and saw the guy ahead of him make a right at the end, he wasn't even close. Maybe the guy would get tired, he thought. When he turned the corner a woman was getting up off the sidewalk. He must have knocked her down when he went around the corner and Faxon was right behind him. The ex-Marine ran across the street, Faxon heard a horn and a screech of tires. When he looked he saw the grizzly image of the man's body under a yellow cab.

The cabbie was speaking in Spanish saying that the man just ran right out in front of him. There was blood coming out from under the cab. Faxon got down and checked for a pulse before pulling the body out from under the car, the man was dead.

Faxon's cell phone rang, and he didn't bother answering his usual way. "Hey did you follow the other guy?"

"Yea but he's dead, he fell in the alley on a piece of rebar and it went right through him, I guess I didn't help the situation, he was trying to kill me when I kicked him. I'm waiting here for the police. Did the other guy get away," Harper asked?

"No, I'm on my way back to you now, are you hurt?"

"No I'm fine, what happened to your guy?"

"Ran in front of a cab, he's dead."

When Faxon got back to the bar Harper was standing at the end of the alley he could see the body lying about twenty feet away. There was a small crowd of people from the bar. The police were still not there. Faxon noticed the big biker standing near her with his old lady and her friend.

"You ok," Faxon asked? He held her hands.

"Yea I'm fine," he hugged her tight. He could feel she was still shaking just a little. Faxon knew it was never easy to kill someone. "He never touched me."

"You got one hell of an old lady, man," said the big biker in his low gravelly voice.

Two police cars pulled up and took everyone's statement, and about thirty minutes later Detective John Walker pulled up in his unmarked car.

"Well I should have known. You know Bennett my wife hates your guts. Is that pile of shit lying in the street a couple blocks from here you're doing too?"

"He ran right out in front of that cab."

"I was over there before I came here, a witness said he was being chased by someone, shit you look just like the description. I checked the body, guess what? The son of a bitch had a tattoo on his right upper arm, and funny thing is I've seen that tattoo before. Now let me guess this guy's got the same tattoo?"

"I saw the whole thing Detective," said the big biker. "This ass hole thought he was going to fuck this girl here up, it really didn't work out that good for him. He slipped and fell and killed his damn self."

"We've got your statement everyone go home or back in the bar. I know this girl buddy this isn't the first guy she's killed."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Faxon drove the SUV, Harper was quiet. He wanted to talk to her, to ask what had happened, maybe if he told her what happened to him first, he thought.

"Shit that guy could run. He was a hundred feet ahead of me, I saw him go around the corner along the main street and I thought he was gone. But by the time I turned the corner he was right there, he ran into a woman on the sidewalk and they both went down. I was about twenty feet away from the guy, he saw me and ran right out into the street, that damn cab must have been doing forty miles an hour, it ran right over him. In the bar I know he didn't recognize me, he ran right by me, it looked like he saw you. Someone must have showed them a picture of you, more than likely before they broke into the office."

"Yea, they saw me and ran, but I don't think it was me they were afraid of, they saw that biker with me. Probably thought all the Renegades were looking for them. Maybe they thought I hired them. Shit that big son of a bitch would have never caught that guy, I ran after him and when we got into the alley he turned to fight. He swung, I knocked him down and kicked him, he got back up and when I kicked him the second time I thought for sure I knocked the breath out of him and I'd have time to disable him. He fell backwards and landed on that damn piece of rebar."

"You know I think John thought we killed both those guys on purpose," Faxon said. "I didn't tell him why we went looking for them. Maybe we should go by his office and explain. Maybe we'll wait for the ballistics report. Still we have to be making someone nervous, they're losing men, that can't make their guys happy."

"Did you hear what Detective Walker said to that biker? It's not the first man I've killed. I know what I've said about avenging my parents death, but it's not like I'm going out of my way to kill these guys. I mean it's not like I enjoyed seeing that guy like that tonight, he struggled around before he died. You know my dad told me about killing men because he had too when he was in the service. If I have to, then I have to, but it's not because I like it. By the way in the bar who was that girl that walked over to you, she seemed friendly?"

"She was a hooker, and she wanted to take me outside and do things to me, for a hundred dollars."

"Did she touch you?"

"She kinda rubbed up against me."

By the time they got to the apartment it was already late and Harper went to bed without saying anything to Faxon, he stayed up and watched the news. The next morning she was back to her usual schedule, up early and breakfast ready by the time Faxon got up. They gathered their usual stuff and went by the storefront first. Pierce Clark and Jacklyn were putting up the new pictures and posters of the Lewis towers, along with putting away the new contracts. They had gotten an early morning delivery from the production company. Their next stop was the lab.

Faxon pulled into the parking lot, they went in and met Sam the technician, he handed them a folder and the two samples back. Faxon looked at the paperwork, the first page compared the two bullets side by side, and Sam pointed to the lands and groves that were on each sample. Then the microscope analysis, then the report of the computer analysis, and the official conclusion, it was 99% evident that both bullets were fired from the same gun.

"Well, we have conclusive proof, Race Thorpe was the shooter," Faxon said. "But we already knew that, and even though we have proof it's not permissible by law."

"So we need to talk to Detective Walker," Harper said.

Faxon parked and they walked into the police station, the desk Sargent looked up and shook his head, but didn't say anything. They assumed that meant Detective Walker was in his office.

"Oh crap I just have a feeling you two are going to ruin my day, come on in and sit down. Miss. Lewis you should feel fortunate that there was a witness that corroborated your story last night."

"I don't appreciate what you said last night Detective. I'm no murderer maybe you should have more interest in finding out who's responsible for killing some of the cities more prominent citizens."

"I don't need a vigilante avenging the death of her parents. You have a reputation and believe it or not I'm trying to help and keep you out of trouble. Anyone else and I would've made them come into the office last night until a complete investigation could be done," John said.

"Ok, let's just calm down, we came in because we thought we owed you an explanation John," Faxon said. "Harper leased a store front for the pre-sales of the condos for the Lewis Towers. Those two men were hired to break in and destroy the model and steal the plans and contracts, all to stop the towers construction. There was a police response to the alarm and an investigation that produced no evidence. However the owner did have a hidden camera system and we got some good images of the two men."

Faxon handed John a folder with different photos enlarged of the two men after breaking into the office.

"So what made you think that you could find those guys there at that bar," John asked, "and what the hell did you think you were going to do if you found them? Now you see why I think you're a couple of vigilantes?"

"We were just going to follow them to see where they were going and who they met with, Harper said. "Then we would have brought the video to you, with the information we found out."

"We also didn't know that they'd recognize Harper, but as soon as they saw her they ran," Faxon spoke up. "We went there simply because I assumed these guys were ex-military and that inner harbor area was where those other three guys were. I knew that bar was where a lot of ex-military guys hung out. The Marine Group is behind these murders and the purchasing of the properties, probably laundering terrorist funds, purchasing arms and having them shipped to the Middle East. Hiring ex-Marines to work overseas as body guards and probably training radical Islamic solders, and whoever is in charge has some way to control them. To get them to do what he wants, including killing themselves if that's what he wants."

"If what you say is true then don't you think we should take this hypothesis to the FBI, have a check done into the permits to buy firearms and ship them overseas? The ex-military training of Islamic solders and where those solders and arms are going, and what they're doing," John asked?

"I do, but the murders and the person responsible are here, they'll concentrate on the threat of terrorism."

"Ok I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop, you have something else. After last night you decided to bring it to me first, am I right?"

"We didn't just decide to bring it to you," Harper said. "We were waiting on our own ballistic report."

Harper set the bullet that came from her horse on his desk, and then she set another beside it. She laid the report on his desk beside the bullets.

"You have a bullet just like these two, the one that came from Mr. Doss."

John picked up the report and read it and its analyses.

"Listen I think I know how this works," Faxon said. "We call in an anonymous lead that we know who killed Parker Doss. You build enough suspicion that you can get a search warrant."

"I have to have enough to take to the State Attorney's office, he has to take it to a judge and he has to give me a search warrant for the rifle that I assume you know the guy has that killed Parker Doss."

"You can prove that all these guys were in the same Marine Company, and that they all have the same tattoos. The three men involved in the theft of the semi-trucks and trailers, the two men last night. We can prove that those two men broke into that office, and the man that has the rifle that killed Parker Doss has that tattoo and was in the same Marine Company."

"Ok, I'll try to put together a case to take to the Attorney General's office. But it takes time, I'll need everything you have, the video of the office break in too. What's the shooters name?"

"Race Thorpe, he lives and works at a machine shop out in Brookline, it's called Smith's Machine Shop, it's a real dump," Faxon said.

"So you broke in, found the rifle, and fired a round off and took the bullet?"

"Yea, he sleeps in a small room in the back, he keeps the rifle in a case under his bed, and it's a military Remington."

"You are one crazy son of a bitch, how the hell did you get him out of there and be sure he wouldn't come in on you?"

"I had help," Faxon said. Harper smiled at the Detective. "There's one more thing John, I need the images of the boots the guy wore that broke into the condo building where Martin Samuels lived. That and the prints you got off the bottom of the elevator door."

"So you have a lead on that guy too? Another member of the same Marine Company," Detective Walker asked? "I'll give it to you if you promise not to kill him," he looked at Harper, "and come to me with what you get on the guy."

They agreed and left the police station after Detective Walker had made sure they were both reprimanded for their independent investigation of the deaths that were connected to the Marine Group. Faxon drove the SUV becoming comfortable with his role as driver for Harper.

"You know I got the feeling John was getting pressure to investigate the recent deaths of Mr. Samuels, and Mr. Doss," Harper said.

"Those guys had influence in Boston the families are probably pressuring local politicians for an arrest. And contractors contribute a lot of money to these guys. It may mean whoever is behind the deaths doesn't have local influence. They may get consideration and favors from upper level military leaders but not local politicians or law enforcement. I'll be interested in seeing how the FBI handles their investigation into ex-military training Islamic solders overseas, and if they investigate where the arms are going."

"Crap this shit wears me out," Harper said. "Let's go have lunch, somewhere near the water, nothing fancy."

"I know a place, over on Commercial Street, if I don't get another paying job soon it'll be back to eating at the apartment."

"You're the most stubborn man I've ever known, I thought I was making some headway getting you to stop worrying about money."

"You have your money and I have, well nothing, but what I have is mine and I earn it, no one gave it to me."

Faxon pulled into the parking lot of The Waterfront Café Sports Bar and Grill. Harper had been looking at the files of information they had gotten from Lew. They went in and got a table out on the patio.

"You don't have anything to do right now let's go to Tennessee," Harper said. "We can have a little vacation. Detective Walker said he'd call before they served the warrant, if he gets one, and that's going to take a while. Cartwright Arms is in Nashville we can go to some blues clubs, see the sights, and check out Cartwright Arms while were there."

"Have you forgotten I really don't have the money for that right now?"

"I have an idea, we've been telling everyone I'm your partner, let's make it legal. I'll get my investigators license, and buy into the business. I'll buy 49% of Faxon Bennett Investigations. You keep total control, what's the worst that could happen? We keep working together, or when this is done I go home and show my horses again, maybe get bored and move on to something else? I don't see a down side for you?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea."

A waitress came over and took their drink order, they both got a menu and the young girl went to get their beer.

"Why isn't it a good idea?"

"You're a control freak. You like having you own way."

"Shit Faxon, we've been living together for weeks, so nothing will change. How about five hundred thousand dollars," Harper said.

"I don't know, it's not the money, I'd be selling my freedom."

"Damn, are you that afraid of commitment, no wonder you've never been married, don't call me a control freak. It's 49% you keep all the control."

"I know you well enough to know that doesn't mean anything to you."

The waitress came back over to their table.

"I'll have the black and blue burger, and another beer," Faxon said.

"I'll have the BBQ chicken sandwich, and you can bring me another too please."

"Five hundred and fifty thousand," Harper said.

She noticed a woman come into the restaurant with another younger woman. Even though the taller older woman had on a hat and sunglasses she looked rich. Expensive clothes, she was tall, and slender, she looked foreign. The younger woman she eventually recognized, she was the one that gave them a ride home the night they had met Turin Holmes.

"Shit, we're about to have company."

Faxon and Harper both stood when Barbie and Shira Brennon walked up to the table.

"Shira, it's good to see you again," Faxon said. "Barbie, I appreciated that ride you gave us, it was important that the people we were with didn't know where we were going. Shira Brennon, you haven't met." That was all he got out of his mouth.

"Harper Lewis, it's nice to make your acquaintance dear." Shira spoke with her thick Ukraine accent. "And you've met my good friend Barbie."

"Please sit down," Faxon said.

Harper gave him a disapproving look.

"My friend Lisa Colman told me all about you," Shira said. "Of course I had to find out more about who was spending so much time with our attractive friend Faxon here. You have quite a reputation my dear. It's interesting who Faxon associates with since he's turned down so many of us."

"I haven't given up on Faxon yet Shira." Barbie reached over and put her hand on top of Faxon's.

"We're business partners," Harper said.

"Yes of course, Lisa can't stop talking about your associate Pierce Clark. I understand he's soon to be divorced. I'm so glad to run into you I was thinking of purchasing one of the Lewis Towers units, do you think it would be a good investment? They seem a little pricey."

"Look where they are," Faxon said. "In the downtown area, near the Boston Common, along with all the retail shops, in a year you'll double your money."

"Faxon sounds like a salesman," Harper commented. "I don't think we'll have to push people to purchase the condos."

Barbie walked away after kissing Faxon on the cheek. Shira did the same and they went to a table of their own. Harper watched the sway of her hips as she walked behind Barbie.

"I don't like them," Harper said.

"Frankly I would have been surprised if you did."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I haven't heard you talk about one friend that was a girl."

"I have friends that are girls you just haven't met them, yet. My friend Kate, which reminds me I need to call Sam and find out how Jason Walter's doing."

What would make you think of Sam when you mentioned your friend Kate? I don't see the connection."

"Sam told me our young Jason Walter was dating Kate. She's a really good girl, I don't want to see her hurt, but it would be nice if the two of them got married, its romantic is all."

* * *

Barbie continued to watch Faxon and Harper. "I'm as pretty as she is, so you said you checked her out Shira, what's her story?"

"She's from an old Boston family on her Mother's side, that downtown piece of property has been in the family for generations. Her mother and father were killed in a car accident a couple years ago, now she's the sole owner of Lewis Construction. I found out she's also the most popular owner, and rider in the horse jumping circuit. Now here's the real shit as you would say. She killed her husband, stabbed him to death, he intended to strangle her however. She's also the wealthiest single woman in Boston."

"You think that's why Faxon has made her his partner. Is it her money that he's attracted to?"

"No, I don't think so," Shira said. "Faxon has something a lot of men don't have, honor, principals, that's what confuses you about him dear. Unfortunately the men you know don't have any. No this could be love."

Shira's cell phone rang. "Hello, (pause) allo Landau, yea I remember the deal you were telling me about. (Pause) I knew it. The guy looked like a con-man dear. I could smell it, I can help. A good friend of mine is here with me. He's the best private detective in Boston. I'll give him your information Landau. (Pause) Yes I want to see you again too. Goodbye love."

After they ate and had one more beer Faxon paid the check, Harper wanted to get it but Faxon told her no. Shira and Barbie watched. On their way out Shira motioned for him to come over to her table.

"I just got off the phone with a good friend, he was telling me about a deal he got in on, buying up oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico. He had to buy into a syndicate, and now the guy won't return his calls. A friend in the securities business checked the deal out and it's a scam."

"If it's a con the guy could still be in Boston," Harper said.

"Oh, look pretty and smart, no wonder our Faxon likes you," Shira said.

"Give me his name, phone number, and address and I'll go by and see him, but if it's a con we need to find this guy fast before he moves on. It's likely he's hitting all the big cities."

"His names, Landau Comaneci, he's Romanian, lots of money you should do good Faxon, here's his number and his address, he lives on a large estate outside of town."

"One more thing Shira if he's a con-man then he's probably using a fake name, if we had a picture of him we could check to see if he's been arrested before and get his real name."

"I was at a party at Landau's home, he was recruiting other investors I noticed he was avoiding taking pictures with people but I think I have one of him in the background on my phone."

Shira checked her cell phone and it was small but you could clearly see the man that called himself, Corbin Beazley behind and to the right of Landau in the picture. She sent it to Faxon's phone and they left.

"Ok we got a job," Harper said. "So what do we do now?"

"We call Lew first," Faxon said as he dialed Lew's number. "Lew, Faxon here. Listen I have something I need quickly, it's a con job, a guy selling Gulf oil leases, but I need to catch the guy before he takes the money and runs. I think he's still working the con here in Boston."

Faxon gave him the name he had and sent him the picture.

"I'll do an arrest record check on the face and alias name and see what I come up with, hey is Harper with you, can I speak to her," asked Lew.

"Hi Lew, (Pause) yes I'll be with Faxon when he comes by to pay you. (Pause) Let me get a pen and something to write on. Go ahead, a case of beer, bread and lots of lunch meat and cheese. Some steaks, milk and cereal, Lew how about some vegetables, well I'll get you some can goods. Yes, chips, cookies, ice cream." When Harper was finished there was a whole page of grocery's Lew wanted.

"We'll go by but not till we go see this Landau Comaneci guy," Faxon said. He called and introduced himself over the phone and made the arrangement to come right away after he explained that time was of the essence.

Faxon stopped at the large gates to the enormous estate. Trees covered the blacktop road they made it look like a tunnel. He reached out and pressed the buzzer, there wasn't any announcement and the gate began to move. It was a half mile of a winding tree covered drive up to the house. Faxon drove around the circle drive and stopped under the covered walkway to the front door. Harper and Faxon got out of the SUV and walked up the steps it opened before they got to it and they were greeted by a girl about eighteen years old.

"You must be the private detective father said was coming." She spoke with a thick Romanian accent. "I'm Talia. You will follow me please, yes."

Down a wide dark hall the only light was from two wall sconces as they followed her, and stopped at two closed double doors. She swung them both open and walked in. There was a fire place large enough to stand in.

"Make yourselves comfortable father will be right with you." She walked out and in a few minutes a tall dark haired man wearing a smoking jacket came into the room.

"Mr. Bennett it's nice to meet you, I'm Landau Comaneci." He spoke to Faxon, but never took his eyes off Harper. His accent made him sound like Dracula in an old horror movie.

"This is my partner, Harper Lewis," Faxon said.

Landau took Harper's hand and kissed the back of it.

"Mr. Bennett I'm embarrassed to say I have fallen for a man's lie, and I'm afraid some of my friends followed my advice and did the same. If you could find this man I would be in your debt."

"How much money did you lose Sir?"

"I gave him two million, but I had three other friends give him a million dollars apiece, it was done by computer transfer out of our accounts we didn't actually give him cash. My reputation is at stake here Mr. Bennett."

"Two percent, if I can get your money back, within twenty four hours."

"I'll give you two percent if you can get my money back within twenty four hours, and two percent of the other three million. That's one hundred thousand dollars cash. And another twenty if you bring the man to me alive, that's one hundred twenty thousand dollars cash, no questions asked."

"I'll try to get your money Mr. Comaneci, that's all I can promise."

Landau kissed Harper's hand again at the door before they left. They drove down the driveway and back through the gates.

"That was one creepy dude. Let's go find a grocery store before we get to Lew's house," Harper said.

It took them an hour at the grocery store to get all the things on the list that Lew wanted. They loaded everything in the back of the SUV and then drove to his house. The door was cracked open Harper and Faxon carried arm loads of grocery bags into the house, Faxon had to make another trip. He sat down in one of the chairs at the table as Lew put things away, and Harper helped.

"Your con-man's real name is Brent Tillman, he's also used Clark Marks, and he's running this con using the name you gave me Corbin Beazley. He's run this con before, selling oil leases in the Gulf, and the guy's got a good rap. He was arrested in New York for running this same scam he jumped bail and is still wanted, on a two hundred thousand dollar bond. So you could make a good payday just by bring him back to New York."

"Thanks Lew for getting that information for me so fast, but I got a little cash flow problem right now, think I could pay you after I catch the guy?"

"Ask Harper, she's already given me a thousand dollars, plus the groceries," Lew said.

They left and drove away with the information. "You didn't have to pay Lew. I would have given him the money after we find this guy. Now that we know he's a bail jumper even if I can't get the money back I'll get a payday."

"You're so worried I'll spend some money on you." You can pay me back, no since making Lew wait for his money. Or you can still accept my offer to buy into the business, eight hundred thousand."

"You keep raising the price, why should I take this offer?"

"Well if you get the money back for Count Dracula, that's over one hundred thousand dollars. With paydays like that I could make my money back in no time."

"That's if I get the money back, now how the hell am I going to find the guy anyway?"

"I've got an idea about that. This guy's looking for investors and the big money does business at the country club, that's where someone goes for stock tips and investment advice. We check the country clubs tomorrow and we'll find him. Just like you knew where those ex-Marines would be, I know this guy will be at the country clubs."

When they got back to the apartment Faxon went to the bar and ordered a couple of Shepard's pie and brought them back to their room. They watched the news and ate, Harper cleaned up the kitchen while Faxon pretended to watch the television. When Harper was done she put her knees on either side of him and sat on his lap facing him then put her arms around his neck.

"Don't panic, I just wanted to tell you something and I wanted to make sure I had your attention. I told myself after I found out my parents were murdered that I'd avenge their deaths, first. But I want you to know you better not do anything with anyone, like that bitch Barbie, or anyone else. I know about that stupid rule of yours and I'm not a client. So just know when the time comes that excuse isn't going to stop me."

Harper kissed Faxon hard and long her hands on the back of his head, like they kissed in the elevator. She had made her intentions toward him known now. Harper whispered in his ear goodnight, she kissed him again, then got up and went to bed.

The next morning was much like most of their mornings, Harper up before Faxon. They both had breakfast and Harper used Faxon's laptop to get the names and locations of all the country clubs around Boston. Faxon checked his bag before they left the apartment, today wouldn't be a sit and observe. Today would be an abduction of a bail jumper.

Before noon they had been to three country clubs and showed the picture of their man around, club members, bar employees, golf course cadies and workers. They had struck out so far.

"The next one's out in Woburn. Woburn Country Club," Harper said, "5-Country Club Road. I'm going to be really pissed if this doesn't work."

When they got there Faxon showed the picture to the club manager.

"Yea I just saw that guy, he's playing with a foursome on the front nine, is there a problem, that guy's not a member, someone brought him in on a visitors pass?"

Faxon explained the situation to the club manager and he agreed to keep quiet, no reason to disturb the members and let them know he'd allowed a con-man into the club. Faxon and Harper got a golf cart and drove the course until she spotted him with the binoculars. They stayed far enough away not to spook him. They made a plan suspecting he'd have lunch in the club and talk up the scam before leaving, hopping to get a computer transfer from his intended targets today.

They got back to the club long before the con-man's group was due back, and Harper went to the club shop and bought a tennis outfit and racket, a very sexy tennis outfit. Harper was ready she stood on the walkway that led from the golf cart lot to the club restaurant.

"Hi, I'm so embarrassed the valet parking attendant said it was your car I backed into, its right here in front would you please just take a look, I'd be so grateful."

Harper put her arm through his and gave him a million dollar smile and a good view of her cleavage. He told the other three guys he'd be right back and winked. Faxon had just pulled up a little past the valet stand, the club manager was there to make sure none of the employees stepped in and tried to stop them. As soon as Harper got close the back door opened and Harper pushed him into the back of the SUV and dove in on top of him, the rear door closed. He started to scream and she punched him hard in the side just in the right spot to drive the wind from his lungs. As he struggled for breath she reached into the bag and took out large zip ties. One went around each wrist behind his back then one tying the two together, he finally took a deep breath.

"You ok," Harper asked? "Can you breathe?" as soon as he said yes she stuffed a sock in his mouth.

Faxon parked at the far end of the parking lot. "Throw that blanket over him, I'll be right back." While Harper sat in the SUV Faxon went back to the club manager still standing at the valet station.

"Here's his keys." the manager said. "Cars in spot twenty three, he also used a locker, and if you'll follow me I'll open it for you.

Faxon found a briefcase in the locker with the con-man's laptop in it and lots of fraudulent paperwork. He walked back to the parking lot and opened the car, there was nothing in the front so he walked around and opened the trunk. There were boxes of the same fraudulent paperwork but he believed everything he needed was on the laptop. The con-man was having all of his victims electronically transfer their funds to his account. He carried the box of paperwork from the car and the briefcase back to the SUV.

"I've got everything we need," Faxon said as he got into the back seat with Harper. He set the briefcase on the seat between them and opened the laptop. When he turned it on it was password protected.

"You want me to do that for you," Harper asked when she saw him stop.

"Get him up, and take that dirty sock out of his mouth, its password protected."

Harper halfway climbed over the seat and sat the man up, his hands still behind his back she jerked the sock out of his mouth.

"You've got the wrong guy."

"Oh really, let's see should I call you Corbin Beazley, or Clark Marks, or Brent Tillman." Harper held up the enlarged mug shot and the bail order from the state of New York.

"Damn bond agents, let me go and I'll give you ten times the twenty percent of the bond that you'll get for bringing me in."

"I already have a lot better deal, with Landau Comaneci, recognize that name, he's an old world Romanian and he's gonna peel the skin off you an inch at a time. Shit it'll take a week for you to die and that Count Dracula fucker will actually enjoy it."

"I'll give you half the money."

"This is what you're gonna do. You're going to return all the money electronically from all the deals you've made. And if you don't I'll take you to the Count and you'll give up the information to him I'm sure of that."

"And if I return the money, you'll let me go?"

"You can forget the idea you're going free, you'll be lucky to stay alive. Do what I ask and I'll take you to New York and collect the bond. Either way I win. One way you get tortured to death, the other way you stand a chance of doing time and living. What's it gonna be," Faxon asked?

The money was transferred back into all the accounts, Landau's and his three friends and six others. Faxon had their contact information but decided to go ahead and transfer the funds back and not try to call the people first. When the transfers were finished they drove to New York. Faxon made a call to Landau.

"Faxon Bennett here Mr. Comaneci, I just called to tell you all your invested funds and the invested funds of your three friends have been electronically transferred back."

"I'll check my account and advise my three friends to do the same. I'm totally amazed that you were able to do what you said you would do in the allowed amount of time Faxon," Landau said in his thick accent.

"I have a very competent partner it was actually Harper that found him. (Pause) No sir, she's not available."

"Please don't be offended Faxon, She's very attractive, I had to ask. I'll have your cash payment here at the house, are you bringing me your prize? I'm anxious to see this man again that thinks he can steal from me."

"I'm sorry Landau, your offer was more than generous, but I had to make another deal for the man. I assure you he's not going free, there's a warrant for him in New York. He jumped his bail so he won't get out again."

"Well, I may still have a way Faxon, but I understand why you're doing what you think you must. You're a man of principal, that's very admirable."

"I won't be able to be at your estate until later this evening."

"I'm having guest for dinner consider you and your partner invited." Then he hung up.

"What was that about," Harper asked?

"I think the Count wanted to court you, I guess it's the old world way of asking my permission for you to be his fourth wife. We'll need to stop at the apartment on the way he just invited us to dinner."

They got into New York in time to have Brent Tillman booked and for the bail bondsman to pay them the twenty thousand dollar fee for bringing him in. They went back to the apartment. Harper wore her more conservative black dress at Faxon's request. He wore slacks his nice shoes and a dress shirt, no tie or jacket, despite Harper's protest, then they were off to Landau's estate. When they got there expensive cars lined the driveway. Faxon parked behind the last one and they walked to the door and it opened as they walked up the steps.

"Good evening, you must be the private detective, Faxon Bennett, and of course you're as pretty as father said you were, Harper Lewis, it's nice to meet you." The young girl spoke with a thick accent like her father. She was dressed in an expensive gown.

"We just met yesterday, I'm sure you must remember," Harper said.

"No, I'm sorry, you met my sister, Talia, she spoke of you, I'm Tatyana, please follow."

Faxon and Harper looked at each other. The girls were obviously identical twins. They smiled and followed the young girl to a dining room where couples talked all holding a glass of champagne. Tatyana handed them both a crystal flute and Shira Brennon walked over.

"You certainly are a stunning couple," she said.

Faxon was looking the room over, he noticed another girl dressed just like Tatyana and assumed that was Talia, he blinked his eyes when he saw the third girl wearing the same gown.

"Shira am I seeing things, or are there three girls that look alike," Faxon asked? Harper turned to look.

"Their identical triplets, Talia, Tatyana, and Tasha," Shira explained. Landau has been married three times and he has three sets of identical triplets. You're likely to meet three more, Seka, Sonja, and Selecta. They're here at the estate also but haven't come down as of yet."

Landau walked over with a group of people and he began to make introductions, the three men thanked Harper and Faxon for helping with the recovery of their money. All three men and their wives were eastern European with thick accents, and two of the women were considerably younger and spoke no English. The second set of Triplets joined the group. Everyone in the room seemed to know them Landau motioned for them to come over and he introduced them to Harper and Faxon. It was explained Seka, Sonja, and Selecta were Landau's children from his first wife they were all twenty one.

Landau explained their mother was still in Rumania, as was Talia, Tatyana, and Tasha's mother, his second wife. His third sets of triplets were fifteen and they and their mother, Landau's third wife were also in Rumania. After the introduction Landau called for everyone to be seated at the large table. It was the first time that evening that Faxon and Harper had seen servants. Four women in black uniforms came in with large dishes and began serving soup, and a man servant stood near the doors and watched observing the servers. It was clearly a course meal, a salad was next, then the main course, Quale with a cream sauce, small redskin potatoes, and grilled artichoke hearts, the meal finished with a serving of sorbet.

After dinner drinks and conversation and the evening was coming to an end Landau walked with Harper and Faxon to the front door. When they got to a small accent table there was a wooden wine box and Landau picked it up and handed it to Faxon.

"I very much hope this is not the last time we share a meal. The man you felt compelled to turn into the authorities won't live twenty four hours in confinement. There are always men in jail that will kill for the right incentive. But I respect the reason you did what you did, you are a principled man please accept this."

In the wooden box was two very expensive bottles of Rothschild wine, under the bottles in the wooden box was one hundred thousand dollars in cash.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The next morning Faxon didn't wake until 10:00 am, Harper was already up as usual but not by much. There was no smell of bacon cooking and he found her drinking a cup of coffee sitting out on the fire escape, she had stepped through the open kitchen window.

"Good morning, how about I make an omelet and we split it?"

"I just didn't feel like cooking."

"Well come back in and talk to me while I make it for us." Harper stepped back through the window and sat at the small table. "That was some evening last night, I could have sworn that any minute we we're going to be the main course, I guess I watch too many old movies, I swear Landau talks just like Bela Lugosi. While I cook will you look up the information of the other investors on the laptop from Corbin Beazley, I thought we could call and let them know their investments have been returned. It's likely they don't even know it was a scam."

"Are you expecting a recovery fee?"

"It'd be nice if they offered one, but since they didn't know they were being taken I doubt they'll offer. Consider it a part of the job."

Faxon diced some onion, red pepper, and opened a can of sliced mushrooms. There was some sliced ham for sandwiches and he cut it up into small pieces then added it to the pan.

Harper worked on the laptop. "Well you have some money now. We could go to Nashville, check out Cartwright Arms, and Ensign Ronald Beale."

Faxon continued to work. "I thought you'd want to wait around until John executed the search warrant on Smith's Machine Shop?"

"There's no guarantee he'll be able to get the warrant. Ok, I've got the list of the other dupes that invested money in factious oil leases, you want me to call?"

"Yea give one of them a call and explain about their oil lease investment."

Faxon broke six eggs into a bowl and used a fork to scramble them up. Harper dialed the first investor on the list. They had all given one million dollars to buy into the syndicate.

"Can I speak to Mr. Ellis?"

"This is Howard Ellis, who am I speaking to, and how did you get this number? This is a private business line."

"Mr. Ellis I'm calling because you invested in a syndicate to purchase oil leases with a man named Corbin Beazley, his real name is Brent Tillman and he's a wanted fugitive. He's been running this scam in all the large Northeast cities."

"Are you with the authorities? Has the man been caught? You haven't answered my question about how you got this number."

"I'm an associate with Faxon Bennett Investigations, and we were hired by a group of four investors that discovered he was a con-man. Your name and contact information was recovered along with all the others that were swindled in the oil lease scam. Your funds have been electronically returned, and we're calling to notify you Mr. Beazley is in custody."

He asked Harper to hold while he checked his account, then came back on the line.

"You're correct my investment has been returned, where is the man in custody?"

"He's in the custody of the New York City PD," Harper said.

"I don't owe you anything for legally seeing that my money was returned, is that why you've called, for a reward?"

"I find you to be quite ungrateful Mr. Ellis. I have yet to hear even a thank you for us volunteering to return your foolish investment, we could have let you find out on your own and it would have taken months for the authorities to straighten out the confusion of investors and funds. The people that hired us gladly paid us two percent to recover their foolish investments, and it's them that you owe our help and your good fortune."

Mr. Ellis didn't say a word, he just hung up.

"Ungrateful asshole, son of a bitch, you should have just let the dumb bastards figured it out on their own."

Faxon set half of the omelet in front of her, and he got her a glass of milk and another cup of coffee.

"I thought as long as we had their information we should return the funds back into the accounts it came from, it was the right thing to do Harper. Even if just one of them gives us a fee then it'll be worth the effort."

Harper finished her breakfast and called more of the duped investors, the next four did say thank you, and asked for Faxon's PO Box. Offering to send some kind of monetary reward of an undetermined amount, the last man on the list was named Alexander Wellington.

"Good morning Mr. Wellington I represent Faxon Bennett Investigations, You recently met a man named Corbin Beazley and invested in a syndicate to buy oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm calling to inform you that Mr. Beazley's real name is Brent Tillman, and was wanted in New York. We came across your information and have electronically returned your investment back into the account it came out of. Mr. Tillman is in New York state custody, four other investors hired us to recover their investments so your good fortune is due to their generosity."

"I don't believe I got you name Ma'am?"

"My names Harper Lewis sir, I'm Faxon Bennett's partner."

"Well Mrs. Lewis I would really like to thank you and Mr. Bennett personally, I'm coming into Boston today and I'm having lunch at The Black Rose, it's in the financial District 180 State Street. Could you and Mr. Bennett join my wife and me for lunch? Just ask anyone there they'll know us."

"We'd be glad to Mr. Wellington, 1:00 pm, we'll be there."

"Well we'll at least get lunch and a thank you. He sounded like an older man very well spoken, and grateful."

Faxon had another cup of coffee and read the newspaper, and Harper called Sam and got a good report on their new engineer. Jason had already gotten three new contracts. Then she had Sam transfer her to the front desk.

"Kate how are you doing," she asked?

"Harper it's so good to hear from you, I got my cast off and I've been training a lot. I've got a show coming up this weekend The New England Equitation Championship in Springfield. Walter's been working with me. He says I have a good chance of winning the Hunter class with Brave. He's turned into such a great horse. Can you come?"

"I'm afraid not Kate, but I know you'll do great, tell Walter and Jose' I miss them. I think this will all be over soon."

"Sam explained everything to me, he said you've got someone looking out for you not that you need it, but I feel better knowing you have help. Is he a good guy? Jason said he suits you, so when am I going to meet him."

"He's a real good guy, but I'll tell you about that another time. How about our new engineer? Sam said he likes you, is he being a gentleman?"

"He comes out to New Castle and watches me ride, I hope that's alright? He's going to the show too. We've had a few dates. I had to kiss him first so I guess he's a gentleman."

"Sometimes a girl has to tell a man what she wants," Harper said, as she looked over at Faxon. He pretended to read the paper not listening to her conversation. "I'll call you after the show to see how you did. Don't take any shit from the, noses in the air bitches, you've got my reputation to keep up. And jump Jason, I think you two would be a nice couple. See you soon bye."

Faxon walked to the kitchen and set his cup in the sink. Harper stood and set the phone down on the table and started to go to the bathroom, he noticed she had a sad look on her face. He reached out and held her hand before she walked away. Then he pulled her against him and hugged her.

"I know you miss your friends, and your horses, and your house. I know this isn't the kind of life you thought you'd be living in a small apartment taking a chance on being killed by people we don't even know."

Faxon hugged her tight then put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. She smiled then went to take a shower and dress for their lunch date with Alexander Wellington and his wife.

Harper wore Jeans but instead of a t-shirt she wore a short sleeved button up the front collared blue shirt. Tennis shoes, her ball cap, and sun glasses, Faxon was getting better at braiding her hair, a chore he didn't mind doing. Faxon wore his tennis shoes, jeans, a pull over dark blue polo shirt and sun glasses, then off to The Black Rose they went. It was very important for Harper to always be on time, something her Father had always insisted on. When they walked in Faxon asked the maître d' if she knew Mr. Wellington.

She smiled and said. "The General and his wife are right this way, their expecting you. They're regulars here for lunch once a week. A very sweet couple everyone loves them."

General Alexander Wellington Retired and his wife Alexis were in their seventies. The General still wore a military haircut and both very well dressed, he stood to shake hands.

"Please sit down," the General said. "I checked my account and just as you said young lady my investment money had been returned. I can't help but be embarrassed falling for such a con-man."

"I told Alex not to do investing on his own that's why we have financial advisers, but you're such nice young people to return our money."

"I guess most of the time a person would have to go through the authorities to get the money back," the General said. "Well we all know how long that would take."

"Well we were hired by four individuals to find the man and return their funds," Faxon said. "When we got his laptop we saw that there were six other investors so we had all the information on where the funds had come from so we just electronically returned the funds from the account he'd set up."

The waitress came over Faxon and Harper ordered a beer and the waitress took their orders. She already knew what the General and his wife wanted. Alexis had ordered the lettuce wedge with Cashel blue cheese. The General ordered the onion soup with Irish cheddar.

"General we're working on a case that involves ex-military, as far as I can tell it's just Marines," Faxon said. "A group is hiring ex-marines and sending them to Saudi Arabia to work as body guards and to train Saudi nationals. I believe their training radical Islamic solders, and this group has been cleared by ATF and licensed to sell arms to a Saudi national that's listed as CEO of the company. There's been six ex-marines killed here in the Boston area that we can link to the group and at least five murders of prominent citizens that refused to do business with the same group. There is no proof but I believe the person in charge is an ex-marine commander that's recruiting these men and is at the center of laundering terrorist money by conducting ligament business here in the Boston area. Their all from the same E-company and we have a list of suspects that were high ranking Marines but the list is so long we can't narrow it down."

"Faxon you give me that list and I'll ask around and maybe shorten it for you," the General said. "If there's someone dirty on it then someone that's retired will know, I'm not without influence and resources."

They finished their meal, and Harper thought she had gone the whole lunch without anyone knowing who she was or mentioned her father or the company then Alexis announced she was a horse jumping enthusiast.

"Harper I've missed you competing even though most of the owners don't seem to say anything good about you, like a lot of others I found myself cheering for you just the same. You have that certain toughness about your demeanor. We were there the day your horse died, that pour girl that was ridding I so hope she wasn't seriously injured?"

"Kate, no she did break her arm but I talked to her today and she has the cast off and is looking forward to an event this weekend." I'm not showing because of the very case Faxon was talking about. Lewis construction was offered a deal to sell a piece of property in the city and my father refused, and so did I. Now it seems I'm a target."

"Harper we're familiar with what happened to you, your horse, and your husband," said Mr. Wellington. "I knew your father only in the sense that we associated in the same circle of friends. He was a hard man, sometimes vulgar, and I suspect he raised his daughter just as hard, and I suspect that's why certain people don't like you. But if someone killed your mother and father and have tried to kill you, well I'll do whatever I can to help you find out who those people are."

Before they left The Black Rose Faxon went and copied the list of all the officers that were members of E-company. The General insisted on Faxon taking a check for ten thousand dollars for returning the funds, then everyone said goodbye.

"Well I thought we'd get through the afternoon without having to bring all that up again, but I'm glad we did," Harper said. "Maybe we can get a good lead on who's the possible person behind all this really is."

As they were driving to the bank Faxon's cell phone rang.

"Faxon, it's John Walker, we got that search warrant, and we're going to execute it today."

"I thought it would take longer? You didn't even think you'd be able to convince the state's attorney to take it to a judge. We want to go with you."

"Someone's putting pressure on the DA to solve the murders. As far as you two coming along, no way, because it's in Brookline we have to coordinate with the local police," John said. "As soon as it's done I'll call."

They went back to the Apartment and waited.

* * *

Detective John Walker and a deputy from the Boston Police Department and two crime scene technicians followed in a van. They stopped at the Brookline police department and the on duty Sargent and a rooky officer followed them to Smith's Machine Shop.

Detective Walker and the local Sargent were the first ones through the large roll up door, the Rookie officer and John's officer came in behind them, the Technicians waited outside. There was a man wielding on a car trailer with his hood down and didn't see them coming in. The old man, Mr. Smith came out of the office he had been sitting in a chair and saw the officers through the office window.

"What can I do for you officers," Mr. Smith asked?

"We have a search warrant and we'd like you and your hired man to stand outside while we execute the search," John said.

Mr. Smith tapped on the wielder's shoulder and he stopped and raised the hood. He was defiantly surprised when he saw the officers and the detective. Mr. Smith stepped outside with one of the officers, the wielder put his lead down and took off the hood, he went to the wielding machine and cut it off and then the shop went silent.

John stood close to the wielder. "Are you Race Thorpe?"

"Yes sir," he said.

"Can I see some ID to confirm that?"

Race Thorpe pulled out a wallet and showed his driver's license. "Turn around and put your hands on the wall," John said.

He searched Race Thorpe and then the rookie office escorted him out of the shop while John, the Sargent and the two technicians conducted the search.

John and the two technicians went straight to the small room in the back where the single bed was. He looked under the bed and retrieved the rifle case and set it down. One of the technicians, with gloves on, opened the case and identified the rifle, scope, and ammunition in the case then they packed everything back up, placed it in a large bag then carried it out to the van.

John was beginning to read Race Thorpe his rights and as soon as the rookie officer reached to pull out his handcuffs Race Thorpe turned into the officer and pulled his service gun free of its holster. He put an arm around his neck and stood behind him with the gun pointed at the officer's head and backed against the patrol car. John pulled his gun along with the other officers. The technicians retreated behind the van, and Mr. Smith went into the shop.

"Put the gun down Thorpe, don't make it worse, there's nowhere for you to go, it's over. Tell us who ordered the murder and we'll help you out."

"I'll be dead anyway he won't let me live."

"Who, tell us who, and we'll put him away."

"He's too powerful, he's connected, here and overseas, you can't touch him, you have no idea what's going on, terrorism pays."

Race Thorpe pushed the rookie officer forward and put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Blood splattered the top of the patrol car before the body slid to the ground.

"Damn-it you stupid son of a bitch," John yelled at the rookie officer.

The rookie turned and through up on the driveway, John continued to yell at him that they had lost a potential informant. After the reports were written and the statement that Thorpe had made recounted John reluctantly called Faxon.

"Faxon, Walker here." Faxon put him on speaker so Harper could hear the recount of what had happened. "We found the rifle, there's no doubt he was our shooter, he as much as admitted it."

"What about who ordered him to do the shootings," Harper asked?

"He wouldn't give us a name. He did say some things about the guy being connected here and overseas, I'll make sure you get a written report on what he said."

"Well you can offer a deal of some kind to make him tell us. You've got time to work on him. I suggest you keep him in protected lockup they'll try to keep him from talking," Faxon said.

"He's dead," John said. "Before we could get the cuffs on him he pulled a rookie officers gun and killed himself."

The line was quiet for a minute, and then Harper responded.

"Damn-it Walker what kind of rookie chicken shit operation are you running, we handed you the guy that could have named the man behind six murders, and the fucking deaths of seven ex-Marines involved in murder for hire. And you had the balls to call me a vigilante, you fucking incompetent bastard."

"Stop it Harper," Faxon said. "You fought with a guy that fell on a piece of re-bar and killed himself, my guy ran in front of a taxi, shit happens we can't control, let's don't beat up John, he's done nothing but try to help us."

"I'm sorry John," Harper said.

"I thought he was about to tell me. I told him I'd protect him but he was convinced whoever this guy is he could get to him. He said the guy had influence here and overseas. Damn rookie officer here in Brookline let him grab his service gun. He had the tattoo, upper right arm. The pressure is going to increase on us to find out who's behind this. It's going to get hard for whoever it is to hide their evolvement, and he's gonna be more dangerous than ever, be careful. What's your next move?"

"The man that killed Mr. Samuels, we believe he's in Nashville working for Cartwright Arms. That's the Company that has the licensing to sell arms overseas with the connection to the Marine Group. Ensign Ronald Beale, he was in Echo Company, and he's considered an entry specialist we have the fingerprints you gave us from the bottom of the elevator and the image of the soles of his boots."

"It sounds like you got someone digging up information for you. If there's anything you need let me know. Nashville is out of my jurisdiction but if you can get his finger prints and they can be matched we can get the FBI to bring him back using across state lines murder. Let me help you with that Faxon, don't try to do this yourself."

After they hung up they sat quietly at the table for a while thinking about what had just happened.

"So when do we leave for Nashville," Harper asked, "we can fly."

"Fly," Faxon said.

"You know in a plane." Harper used the laptop and found what she was looking for. "We can fly direct to Nashville one way, since we don't know how long we're going to be there. If you're worried about the money I can take it as a business expense, it'll save us hours of driving, and we can rent a car when we get there."

Ya, ok we'll fly, but I've got money, I'll pay, go ahead and book the flight for as soon as possible and reserve the rental car. How about Chinese tonight, I'll go get it."

Faxon went to get dinner and Harper booked their flight out of Logan International Airport and a rental car when they got to Nashville International. Then she went into the closet in the new room and unzipped her hanging bag for her two nice black dresses one was the Versace. Harper filled a smaller bag with jeans, shirts, a couple pair of shoes, and her ball cap. Along with some underwear and her night shirt then went to the bedroom to add Faxon's Armani suit, and his dress slacks, nice shirt, and jacket then zipped up the hang up bag. She had Faxon's small duffle bag open and was folding his jeans and shirts when he came in.

"Hey I'm back," Faxon said, not seeing Harper when he came in. He set the large bag of take out on the table. "You didn't tell me what you wanted so I got what you normally order, and a variety of other stuff we can share. The old man commented on how much I was buying, you'd been proud of me I didn't care about how much it cost."

"I got our flight for first thing in the morning, and I rented a car, I asked for a minivan, and I went ahead and booked us a room at the Renaissance Hotel," Harper said from the bedroom.

"I heard you say a room, not two rooms?"

"So we've been living together for months and sleeping in the same bed and you wanted your own room? I don't think so remember it's a business expense if that makes you feel any better. You shouldn't need more than four pairs of socks, counting your black dress ones, and I packed you some underwear, jeans, shirts, and put your dress stuff in the garment bag with my dresses."

Faxon walked into the room and handed her a beer, he had one in his hand. "Packing for me, really, what does that mean? I mean crap the last person that packed for me was my mom when I went to summer camp."

Harper walked over to him and put the arm that wasn't holding the beer around his neck and kissed him, then whispered in his ear. "I'm not your mother."

* * *

The next morning they got up and drove to the airport and parked in long term parking and checked their bags. Harper got Faxon to go through a drive through for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. They rode in coach, Harper complained about the leg room, and the cute waitress that was flirting with him. The flight wasn't long and soon they were landing. Down to baggage and then to the rental car bus that would take them to the car rental location. With their stuff in the minivan they drove to the Renaissance Hotel. They stood at the main desk and Harper gave them a credit card, she had asked for an early check in and they went up the elevator to their room.

Faxon turned on the television and lay back on the bed watching a baseball game. Harper sat on the bed crossed legged and opened up the laptop and found a restaurant to go to for dinner.

"We can go look for Cartwright Arms tomorrow," Harper said. "I found where I want to go to dinner tonight."

"Don't tell me I have to dress up?"

'It says casual, but that means you don't have to wear your suit. Just your slacks and nice shirt, and I'll wear a dress." Harper lay back on the bed with him. "This is nice, isn't it?"

"Ya, we're a regular couple on vacation. Is that what you mean? Just remember in this relationship people get killed."

"Do you think they would have followed us here," Harper asked?

"Probably not, but we have to assume that Ensign Beale knows what we look like, no just walking into Cartwright Arms and having a chat with him. We need to follow him and find out where he lives and maybe do a B&E again. We can get his finger prints from his garbage, and then find a lab here in Nashville that can do the fingerprint analysis."

"You've got this all figured out," Harper said. "One day I want to talk about what we're going to do when this is over. I was serious when I said I wanted to get my private investigators license."

"I don't want to think about that right now. I'd be safer if you went back to riding horses and cussing out prospective clients. And as for figuring out what to do here, well I still don't know. One thing for sure the prints are gonna match, I just have this feeling."

"I'm going to take a shower," Harper said.

They got ready and went down to the car. "Where are we going," he asked?

"To a restaurant called Margot Café and bar," Harper used the GPS feature on Faxon's phone. "1017 Woodland St. they serve American, French, and Italian. It's near where they call the five points area, historic east Nashville, the website said it's romantic. I thought we'd have a few beers in the bar before dinner."

Harper and Faxon sat at the bar and had two beers before going to a table in the large open dining room. After eating they had desert and then drove around town a little before going back to their room.

Harper kicked her shoes off at the door and walked into the bathroom. Faxon took off his shirt and slacks and hung them up, he put on a pair of shorts and a tank top t-shirt. When Harper came out of the bathroom she had on her night shirt, and nothing else, she walked up to him and put her arms around his neck and kissed him, she pressed her body against his. She turned and walked to the bed and he went to the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and when he came back out the room was dark.

The only light was the outside lights of the hotel coming through the crack in the heavy drapes. The covers on the bed were pulled back and Harper sat on the edge of the bed her feet on the floor waiting on him to walk to her. Faxon hesitated. Harper pulled her nightshirt over her head and dropped it to the floor. Neither of them said anything. Even in the dark he could see her perfect body, he walked closer but still a couple feet away.

"I'm only human Harper. It's going to be pretty hard for me to sleep beside you like that."

"I can see that."

She reached out and pulled him to her by his elastic waistband, and as soon as he got close enough she put her arms around his waist after lifting his t-shirt and kissed his stomach, then jerked his shorts down to the floor.

* * *

The next morning Faxon lay on his side naked in bed with just the white sheet pulled up, he could feel Harpers nude body against his back, she was on her side her right arm around his waist curled up against him. Faxon could feel her lower stomach against his bottom. It was a nice way to wake up. He didn't move but almost as if she could since he was awake her hand rubbed his lower stomach, she kissed his neck then pulled him over onto his back. Before he could say good morning she kissed him and rolled on top, her knees on either side of his hips and rubbed herself against him, she whispered in his ear. "I'm not done with you yet."

* * *

After they showered together and dressed. They sat at the table in the room and while Harper looked up the address of Cartwright Arms Faxon called Lew.

"Lew I need a favor."

"Is Harper with you?"

"Yes, but we're in Nashville, and that's why I'm calling, we're looking for Ensign Ronald Beale, thing is I think he knows what we look like but we don't know what he looks like. I need a picture maybe a driver's license photo can you hack the Tennessee driver's license department?"

"Yea that's easy enough, will you ask Harper to call me when you two get back in town, you'll owe me you know?"

"I've always took care of you Lew, sure."

"Not as good as Harper takes care of me. I'll send the image to your phone it shouldn't take long."

"Thanks Lew, we'll see you when we get back."

They got dressed, jeans, and t-shirts, sunglasses, ball caps and Faxon braided Harpers hair. With the gym bag full of investigators stuff they went to check out Cartwright Arms.

The gun shop parking lot was full of cars. They sat across the street at a quick store. The large metal building had a store front about forty feet across with glass windows. The building was a hundred feet deep and the back of the property had a six foot high chain link fence with razor wire at the top. A sign on the fence said video monitored and another sign said bad dogs with a picture of an angry dog showing his teeth.

Harper and Faxon watched customers come and go pulling up to the front of the building, going in and in a while coming back out. With binoculars they could see there were three men at the counter and countless rifles, shotguns and hand guns on the wall behind them. Glass cabinets were full of boxes of ammo, twice before noon freight trucks drove through the large gates and backed up to a rollup door. Once they unloaded two crates, and the next truck they loaded three crates then the truck left

"If he's in there they want close before 4:00 or 5:00, this afternoon," Faxon said. "Let's follow that truck and see if we can get a look at where those crates are being shipped."

They followed the freight truck around and he made two more deliveries and picked up two more shipments at two different places. Then the driver stopped for lunch, and that was his chance to look at the packing list on the crates from the gun shop.

"Go in and make sure that driver doesn't come out before I'm done, the trailer door isn't locked I just need to get in and look at the packing list on the crates."

"Why do I always have to keep the guy from catching you? I can read the packing list," Harper said.

"When it's a woman that we're trying to keep from coming out to soon then you can do the breaking in."

Faxon opened the rollup door of the truck trailer about two feet and he rolled into the trailer. He turned the flashlight on and found the three crates one had the packing list stuck to the side of it. Faxon ripped it open and unfolded the paperwork, three crates containing fifty customized fully automatic AK 47's with fifty round clips. The order was going to dock 47, inner harbor, Boston Mass. That was the ship the Desert Sun. Faxon put the paperwork back and got out of the truck. He went into the diner and sat in a booth with Harper. They both ordered cheese burgers with fry's and let the driver go on his way.

"No one's checking these loads that are going overseas, and no doubt their shipping illegal guns on the Desert Sun." Faxon said.

Back to the store across the street from Cartwright Arms they kept an eye on the shop until closing time and took turns watching people leave. It was Harper that recognized Ensign Ronald Beale get in an old El Camino parked behind the fence and drive north on the highway away from the shop. Faxon followed at a distance, Harper watched with a pair of binoculars. The ex-Marine pulled into a driveway of an old frame home in an older neighborhood, after stopping at a store and buying a twelve pack of beer. They parked down the block and waited.

"See all the garbage cans along the street," Faxon said.

"Yea so tomorrow must be trash day, you think he'll drag his out to the roadside tonight?"

"I don't know but were going to have to come back later after dark and hope even if he doesn't take it to the curb there'll still be plenty of trash in the can. There's likely a beer bottle in it and we can get good prints."

They drove around and had dinner at a local restaurant and waited until 10:00 pm before they went back. They parked down the street and Faxon got out and walked up to the house and looked in a side window. The only lights were from the television, Ensign Beale was sitting in a recliner chair asleep with a beer bottle in his hand and at least eight empties on the coffee table in front of him. The garbage can wasn't out by the road but it was right there beside the house, it looked like it hadn't been dumped in weeks. Black garbage bags full of trash were stacked up beside it, Faxon picked up two, one in each hand and walked down the driveway around the El Camino and back to the minivan.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Faxon opened the sliding door to the side of the minivan and threw the two bags of garbage in, then slid the door shut and got in the driver's seat and drove away.

"He looked like he drank the whole damn twelve-pack he was passed out in a reclining chair with a beer still in his hand and the television on. Seems like most of these guys have some kind of dependency problem, maybe from being in the service, that's the way he controls them. He takes advantage of his rank, power, and money to get them to do what he wants."

"You sound like you know this is our guy," Harper said.

"He's our guy I've got that gut feeling again. I could see the tattoo on his arm from the window. Tomorrow we'll find an independent lab and have the fingerprint analysis done."

The next morning they were up early and Harper found what they were looking for on the internet. It was a lab that the Nashville Police Department used for its independent analysis to back up their own lab in court trials.

In the parking lot of the hotel they opened the garbage bags and with surgical gloves on they separated the most obvious items with fingerprints. He held up some of the beer bottles and finger prints were easily seen. Harper found an old milk jug that Ronald Beale held and he must have had something on his hand, he left thumb and four finger prints. With what they had separated from the rest of the garbage they went to the lab.

"We shouldn't have any problem getting plenty of usable prints off this stuff Mr. Bennett," said the manager of the lab. "Your comparative sample says it's from the Boston Police department, what kind of case does this involve if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's a murder case," Faxon said.

"Is the suspect a Nashville citizen? You know that's across state lines."

"I'm aware of that, if the samples match I want it documented that the prints came from refuse, that's totally legal, and I want your report sent to the Boston Police Department in care of Detective John Walker, and the Boston office for the FBI. But I want to know the results first."

"I should be able to have the analyses for you in an hour if you want to hang around, there's a waiting room and some coffee."

"Yea, thanks," Faxon said.

Harper was unusually quiet, they went into the waiting room and he poured them both a cup of coffee. "What's wrong? I can see you're worried. I told you this is our guy, trust me."

"I just realized you've committed us to turning this guy over to the FBI for transport back to Boston."

"Yea, Harper that's the way we have to do it."

"No, it's not. We could get this guy and take him back ourselves. What I want to know is who gave the order to kill my parents. I want to know who's behind this. As important as this guy is he's only important in the since that he can give us the name of the person in charge."

"And who says he'd tell us anything Harper. At least with the FBI and Police, the State Attorney can give him a deal to talk."

"Are you saying we couldn't get him to talk? I've seen shows about waterboarding. We could take this guy somewhere and make him talk," she said.

"No Harper, that wouldn't be right. We could kill the guy, that would make us no better than them. Those other guys we were chasing died because they chose to, not because we murdered them. Remember how you felt when you saw that guy squirming around on that rebar before he died. Could you kill someone for the information you want? If you did that Harper it would change you. No we've got to do it this way. It's not worth our future."

"Ok, but this guy better give us what we need Faxon."

In an hour the lab manager had confirmed the prints that came from the bottom of the elevator door and the prints taken from the legally obtained items were from the same person, a ten point match. The report was sent to the Boston office of the FBI and the Boston police department. Faxon called John and told him the report was on its way. John told them that the FBI had been brought up to date on all the evidence on all the connected deaths and murders related to the retired men of the Echo Company. The tattoos, the shooter, the men at the dock, Faxon's report of the shipment of arms going to the Saudi registered ship the Desert Sun. Harper wanted to do things her way, and get directly to the man that had given the order to kill her parents. Faxon tried to explain that this was going to start a landslide of shit that would bury the man at the top.

They enjoyed their intimacy for the next two days. Staying in bed till late every morning, holding hands when they were out and public kisses when they were close, they met the two agents at the airport and took them to Cartwright Arms. For the agents it was a turnaround flight, they had enough time to arrest their man and go back to the airport. Harper and Faxon had booked a flight back on the same plane, and they were packed and ready to go.

They followed the two agents into the front of the store and one of them asked to see Ronald Beale. Faxon thought the guy might try to run but he walked into the front room without a worry in the world. They informed him he was under arrest and read him his rights. With cuffs on Beale sat in the back in-between the two agents. He refused to talk or answer any questions no matter how many times asked, Harper got angrier.

It was a quiet flight back to Boston. Harper obviously thought it was a bad decision to turn Ronald Beale over without them getting the name of the man in charge. Their romance stopped as soon as they got back to the small apartment. Harper went to bed without giving Faxon a kiss or even saying good night. The next morning she wanted to go to the station and talk to John, she was up and ready when Faxon got up, there was no breakfast ready. At the station the desk Sargent waved them by.

"Well, have you interrogated Beale," Harper asked as soon as she walked into Detective Walker's office.

"He hasn't said a word, and he's lawyered up," John said. "The DA says it's strictly a circumstantial evidence case."

Harper looked at Faxon and walked out of the office without saying a word. He stayed behind and went over all the evidence that the DA was going to present. John assured him that the Feds were after the marine group and were investigating the Saudi national.

Faxon walked out of the station, the only thing he had left was the help he could get from the General, and the hope that Lew would find Linda Walker. When he got to where they had left the SUV he expected to find Harper waiting for him, but the car was gone.

It took a while for him to get a cab and he went back to the small apartment. She was packing her things.

"Harper it's not over yet, it's disappointing I know, but we'll keep trying, we'll find out who killed your parents."

"I tried to reason with you, we could have gotten the information, you were so worried about this guy, and he picked up Mr. Samuels and through him off the roof of a building. We could have found out who was involved. I thought you cared about me."

"Harper don't do this, you know how I feel about you. I've been single a long time, I love you. Torturing some guy no matter how bad he was isn't the right way. It would have changed who you are. I'll find out with or without you."

"Then it'll be without me."

She picked up her duffle bag and walked out.

He sat on the couch for at least an hour, he was hollow inside. He didn't eat dinner and he fell asleep sitting up on the couch in the clothes he had on. He woke up at 3:00 am the apartment seemed empty with her gone. He walked and stood in the doorway of the bedroom for a while then walked back and lay down on the couch still in his clothes and eventually fell back to sleep.

* * *

Harper drove the SUV home when she pulled up to the gates she sat there and looked up at the name above. New Castle Farms, it was 7:00 pm she reached out and punched in the code but the gate didn't open. She pushed the intercom button and her Aunt Rachel answered and saw her on the camera system.

"Harper, what are you doing here sweetie you didn't call?"

Rachel opened the gates and Harper drove up to the house without answering her Aunt. She parked the new Porsche SUV under the carport next to Rachel's Audie. Rachel came out of the house with Conner and Harper hugged her aunt a little longer than she normally would have. She refused to cry, even though she bit her lip it was clear to Rachel something was wrong, she saw the tears in her eyes.

"Harper it's good to see you again," Conner said. "I think I'm gonna go back in and check that roast in the oven."

Conner could tell there was something wrong. For one thing he didn't see Faxon and he knew from his first encounter with the man wouldn't leave Harper alone unless it had been up to her.

"Harper girl I can tell you're about to explode, where's Faxon, what's happened?"

Harper blurted out the story of how one suspect after another had died or been killed and how they had tracked down the ensign in Nashville and how Faxon had made the decision to turn him in to the authorities instead of them questioning the information out of him.

"I'm stupid, I fell in love, and he let me down Aunt Rachel."

"Harper you wouldn't have really tortured that man, would you?"

"I'd skin the hide off of him an inch at a time if he could have told me who killed mother and father, and now there's no one else. I'll never find the man that killed them, they'll never have peace. I told myself I wouldn't love him, not until it was over. He crushed all hope for them to have peace, that bastard."

"I don't believe you Harper, you're angry right now, I saw the way you two looked at each other, you'll get over this, and if I know this Faxon Bennett he won't give up that easy, on you, or on finding the man responsible."

* * *

Faxon didn't get up until 11:00 am there was no smell of bacon and the bed next to him was cold and empty, he pulled the cover up over his head hopping to fall back to sleep. He had convinced himself last night that she'd eventually understand they couldn't turn into cold blooded killers and come back. Now he was beginning to think that was just being hopeful.

Not being able to fall asleep He eventually got up and went to the kitchen and poured a large glass of milk and drank it down then made a cup of coffee. He didn't feel like eating and sat at the table looking out the window at the overcast sky when his phone rang, he picked it up quickly hopping it would be her, but answered as if it wasn't.

"Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said.

"Faxon it's Landau Comaneci, it seems I have a need for your service again. My third wife has come to America with my daughters and is staying at my Hampton home it seems she's fallen for a dishonest man's attentions and he has taken some money. I need you to convince him to return it, or bring him to me, I can be very convincing."

"Just give me the address Mr. Comaneci and I'll go see what I can do, but can I ask why you're asking me to handle this? I know you're not without other men to help you."

"My ex-wife is very pretty some of the men I employ would take advantage of her, I trust you Faxon you are a man of honor and principal, and I have complete trust in you. I would like for you to stay there at the home while you pursue this man and keep an eye on my ex-wife and daughters for me until I can get there. I've already told Anya you would be coming, and Faxon I'll make sure you're handsomely compensated."

"I'll call when I get there and don't worry, I'll find this guy."

He put some clothes in his duffle bag and went to get the GTO. It wasn't too long of a drive to the large two-story home on the ocean. He knocked on the door and a tall slender blond lady with green eyes and high cheek bones answered, she definitely looked eastern European Faxon thought,

"Mr. Bennett I presume?"

Her English was good but spoken with a thick accent. She was barefoot and wore jeans with a white button up the front long sleeved shirt, and large gold hoops in her ears.

"Please come in and make yourself at home, Landau said you'd be staying for a few days."

He followed and she stopped at the base of the stairs.

"The first room on the right at the top of the stairs is yours. I stay in the room to the left and the three rooms at the end of the hall are the girls, their out on the beach, would you like something to drink, wine maybe, or scotch, whiskey?"

Faxon dropped his bag on the floor at the foot of the stairs. "I'd have a beer if you have one."

"Beer, what is it with you Americans and beer, it seems that's all you drink, I have some and it's cold, that is the way you like it, yes?"

"Yes," he said. "Tell me about this man that took advantage of you."

"I met him at an art show, he seemed like an honest man and quiet handsome, much like you Mr. Bennett. He was very well built and I asked him to have dinner with me and the girls, I'm a very good cook, it's a hobby. Sometime during the evening he got my banking information and drained my local account, somewhere around eighty thousand dollars."

"Do you have a picture?"

"No, you'll have to make due with a description and some of the places I know he hangs out at and some names of people he told me he knew. I have since found out he's a local cad of sorts my neighbor told me, you can also talk to them, but I believe their gone for the evening. I'm fixing salmon covered in a béarnaise sauce with artichokes and asparagus with brie. Please say you'll have dinner with the girls and me?"

"Sure, I'll go check a couple of local dives, I might see him."

"I don't understand, what is a local dive Mr. Bennett?"

"A local lounge, bar, somewhere local guys would go to pick up ladies, and please call me Faxon."

"Only if you call me Anya," she said.

Three fifteen year old girls came in through the French doors at the back of the house laughing and speaking in their native language. They all look exactly alike, younger versions of their mother. They wore shorts and t-shirts and were barefoot with sandy feet."

"You horrible girls," said Anya. "Go back outside and rinse your feet off."

When they came back in they were introduced to Faxon.

"This is Laska, Lana, and Lena." Standing in a line each girl curtsied then giggled. Anya checked on dinner while the girls sat in the living room each with a laptop. Faxon sat at the bar and had another beer and wrote down Anya's description of the man named Marvin Hawks.

"Have you met Landau's other girls Faxon," asked Anya?

"I have, I don't think I've ever met anyone that's had triplets much less three sets of triplets from three different women."

"Yes well Landau is a very rich, handsome man, and he likes women, lots of women, so he has a problem staying married, I suspect there may be another set of triplets one day. He respects you very much you know. That's very unusual for Landau."

They had dinner and Faxon excused himself to go check some of the local watering holes. He drove the GTO down the road to a local middle aged meat market lounge. He sat at the bar with some of the locals. He bought a round of drinks and the men talked and laughed about some of the older rich women they chased. All of them were good for a night out, occasionally dinner, drinks, and a good appreciated roll in the sheets. Faxon mentioned Marvin Hawks and the men all knew him, and they had heard he had made a big score from a rich divorcé. He found out all he needed to know, he lived in a garage apartment not far away and after another round of drinks he drove until he found the house.

The garage was around the back and the old MG that the men said he drove was parked beside it. There was a set of stairs that went up the outside and he could see a lamp on through the small window. Faxon decided to wait until late before surprising Marvin. Up the steps the light had been out two hours, Faxon worked the lock with a bump key and slipped in quietly. The apartment wasn't much larger than his apartment in Boston, he looked into the bedroom and Marvin was sound asleep snoring. His laptop was on the table and he decided to take Marvin with him, he'd give him plenty of time to decide to return the money he'd stolen, and teach him a lesson at the same time.

Faxon used his zip ties and bound his ankles together without waking him. He had the ones ready for his wrist before grabbing his hands wakening him up. When he started to yell Faxon hit him with a good right to the jaw zip tied his hands then stuffed a sock into his mouth. He couldn't believe how good it felt. He struggled with Marvin over his shoulder but was able to get him down the stairs and into the trunk of the car. He went back upstairs and got the laptop and then drove back to Landau's beach front home. He backed up to the garage and opened the door to the utility room then opened the trunk and drug Marvin still bound and gagged in and shut and locked the door, then he slipped into the house and slept on the couch to keep from waking anyone upstairs.

The next morning he woke, someone was gently shaking his shoulder, Anya stood next to the couch smiling.

"You must have come in late? Just the same you didn't have to sleep on the couch, you wouldn't have woken us."

"It was quiet and I was concerned about making too much noise walking up the stairs, I didn't want to disturb anyone."

"You do know I am divorced from Landau? He often came in late after I was asleep, but he never woke me. Did he ask you not to make a pass at me?"

"He didn't have to, I have a rule I never break, I never get intimate with a client Landau knows that about me. Well I have something I need to do right now. I found Marvin Hawks, and he's sleeping in the outside utility room. It might be better if you and the girls go out for breakfast this morning."

Faxon went outside and opened the door to the utility room, Marvin was lying on the floor on his side his feet still bound together, hands bound behind his back, and sock still stuffed in his mouth. He was awake, and Faxon leaned over and pulled the sock out of his mouth.

"Who the hell are you and why did you bring me here? Why am I tied up, I'll have you arrested you fucker, you're in a world of shit."

"Man you are really stupid. You steel eighty thousand dollars from the wrong person, then you tell your buddies about it and you've got the balls to tell me I'm in a world of shit. Now you can shut the fuck up and listen or I can shove this sock back down your throat until you choke to death."

Marvin realized he was caught and he looked scared. The laptop was on the shelf in the utility room.

"Now you can tell me where the money is, I suspect it's in an account somewhere and like most people you probably have your banking information on your computer."

Marvin confirmed it by looking up at the shelf where the laptop was.

"Now you can give the banking information password, access codes, and we can electronically transfer the money back into the account you stole it from. Or you can stay here on the floor without water or food until tomorrow when Mr. Comaneci gets here. Don't worry you won't need food or water, you'll tell him what he wants to know and you won't live after you tell him. Mr. Comaneci is an old world Romanian and you wouldn't be the first man he's tortured, I think he really likes it."

Marvin Hawks couldn't get the information out fast enough, he had spent several thousand dollars and Faxon accessed his personal savings account to replace the missing funds. When Faxon was done he cut the zip ties and let Marvin go, he stumbled down the driveway and walked back to his garage apartment. Faxon had warned him that even though he had returned the funds if Anya or Mr. Comaneci saw him while they were out around town he may still be targeted.

Faxon called Landau and reported the returned funds, Landau promised to be there early the next morning and He spent the rest of the day sitting out on the rear porch enjoying the view and thinking about Harper. Twice he took a walk on the beach once Anya and the girls joined him. Anya asked about his sullen mood, her natural woman's intuition told her it was over a lover.

That night Faxon got a call from Alexander Wellington and he made arrangements to meet him and his wife for lunch at their usual place, The Black Rose. The next morning Landau drove his Rolls Royce up the driveway and Anya made breakfast for everyone. The triplets seemed truly happy to see their father and he spent almost all morning talking to them. Faxon got ready to go he carried his duffle bag down the stairs to the door and Landau actually was there waiting for him alone. He thought Anya must have told him that he was getting ready to leave.

"Faxon I really don't know how to thank you, I hope you consider me a friend and if you ever need me please ask." Landau handed him a bag with cash in it. "Anya told me that you and Harper are no longer together and I am deeply sorry, you were a handsome couple. I offer you one of my older daughters and would consider it an honor if you accepted."

"I know that's the way you do things back home Landau, and I am honored, and I do consider you a friend, but I'm afraid I'm still suffering a broken heart."

They shook hands and Faxon said goodbye to Anya and the girls and drove away from the Hampton seaside home and on his way to his meeting with Alexander Wellington and his wife. He never counted the money till later, Landau had been very generous the bag contained ten thousand dollars.

Faxon had to park down the street from The Black Rose and walk back. He thought of the day Harper and himself had met the older couple there for lunch. When he walked through the door the Maître d' seem to know he was there to meet with Mr. Wellington.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wellington are right this way," the Maître d' said. "I was expecting you to be with a tall attractive blond," said the young woman as she led him to the Wellingtons. Faxon didn't respond.

Mr. Wellington stood when Faxon approached the table and the two men shook hands, Mrs. Wellington remained seated.

"Where's Harper," she asked?

"She moved back to her home in Littleton," Faxon said.

Alexis sensed the sadness in his voice as it broke. Mrs. Wellington patted his shoulder as they sat.

"I'm so sorry Faxon," she said. "You both looked so happy together, I had a feeling that the two of you were just meant for each another."

"If you don't mind us asking what got between the two of you," Mr. Wellington asked.

"Well you both know about this case. Every lead we followed the person that would give us information died or committed suicide. Harper got more desperate to learn the identity of the man that had ordered the death of her parents. We found the entry specialist responsible for the death of Mr. Samuels, he was in Nashville and I convinced her that we should let the FBI bring him back to Boston to be interrogated. However she wanted us to take the man and do the interrogation and get the man's name regardless of whether it could be used in court or not, and she didn't care what she had to do to the man to get the name. In the end I talked her into letting the authorities take him in, and when he lawyered up and wouldn't talk she blamed me."

"I can't believe she would have tortured the information out of the man," Mrs. Wellington said.

"I believe she would have. But I tried to explain the cost to her in doing something like that, it would have changed her, it would have left scars. Unfortunately I believe she's willing to do anything to avenge the death of her parents including murder."

"Well I'm sorry Faxon," Mr. Wellington said. "Alexis and I will say a prayer for the both of you."

They had lunch first before Mr. Wellington gave him the information he'd gotten from his sources.

"I've spoken to a lot of high ranking military men some retired some still active duty there's a joint investigation with ATF, Joint Chiefs, and Homeland Security, along with international terrorist task force. All of this probably due to your clams of arms being sold from the United States to Saudi nationals sympathetic to radical Islamic forces," Mr. Wellington said. "I shared the list with them and they narrowed it down to four ex-Marine high ranking commanders all working in the private security business. All four were commanders in Echo Company and all four have disreputable reputations. I couldn't find out where the four men are, some maybe overseas, you'll have to find that out yourself, but from what you said the man you're looking for is here in Boston so that may make it easier."

Mr. Wellington gave Faxon the list of the four men and he suddenly had the feeling that now there may be hope in finding the man it seemed everyone was now looking for.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Harper had spent the last two weeks getting up every morning and going for a three mile run around the property. After her run she would mix up a protein shake, she hadn't cooked bacon and eggs since coming back home, it reminded her to much of Faxon. Her diet had changed and sometimes she didn't eat at all, her weight had dropped ten pounds.

Even before she had come home she was spending her evenings taking an on line course studying to get her private investigators license and she had increased her studies determined to prove something to herself.

She had the security system upgraded around the house and a ten foot fence with razor wire around the property with electric and sensor monitoring. The stables had their own system. Harper had insisted that Jose', Aunt Rachel and Conner go to the range and shoot once a week, and carry their choice of small arms around the property. Rachel and Conner actually enjoyed going to the range and it became something they enjoyed doing together.

Harper came into the kitchen from her early morning run and started putting protein powder into the blender she was taking the milk from the fridge when Aunt Rachel came in.

"Harper, how long are you going to be on this sadistic routine? You look gaunt. You run every morning then lift weights, then you go to your martial arts trainer then back to the stables and you work out your horses till nearly dark every day. I know what this is about Harper, why don't you just call him?"

"Have you been taking online courses in psychiatry Aunt Rachel?" Harper turned on the blender and smiled at Rachel knowing any answer she gave would be drowned out by the noise.

"No one needs to be a psychiatrist to know what's wrong with you," Rachel said after the blender had stopped.

Harper drank the protein drink from the blender container as she leaned against the counter. She wiped her face with the towel around her neck.

"He's moved on to someone else, he's a real ladies man. I'm working out hard because I'm out of shape and I have a show coming up this weekend. Next week I promised Sam I'd come into the office and help out. I do have a life you know."

Harper worked out in her home gym, she never drove the SUV. She came back and went to the stables to work with the horses. Kate showed up at around 4:00 straight from work to train with Brave. After they were through for the day Harper sat in the office with Kate, they talked about the upcoming event. It was a hometown event, The New England Invitational and they were both favored to win by the local press.

"Since the event is so close do you think he'll be there," Kate suddenly asked?

"I think this is the first time you've said anything about him Kate. Is it that obvious?"

"Harper, you're kidding right, there's one thing you're not and that's a person that can hide her emotions. What happened between you two? I never met him but it was obvious there was something between the two of you, besides him keeping you safe. Jason told me when he met you it looked like you were a couple that had been together for a long time."

"I had a chance to find out who killed my mother and father and he let the police have the guy instead of us getting the information from him ourselves. That may sound cold to you but I have to get justice for them Kate. If I don't I'll never be able to get over their deaths, so no matter what I have to do, the guy that had them killed is going to pay, I just can't let that go."

Saturday morning early Harper had her king cab truck hooked up to the fifth wheel trailer. All the tack and saddles were loaded and Jose' was helping Harper with the horses when Kate pulled up. It wasn't a long ride to the county fair grounds and a lot of competitors would be there. This was the first event Harper would be competing in since she had come back home. It was obvious she was leaner, she had a hard look. Kate had several other riders come over and talk to her including her father. Harper walked the course with Walter and when they got back to the trailer Kate was there with Jason, she had already dressed in her ridding clothes and there was a tall young man with Jason.

"Harper Lewis this is my cousin Mat Lions," Jason said.

Mat had brown hair and very blue eyes and a dimple when he smiled which seemed like all the time. He tried to engage her in conversation without any luck. She accepted Mats best wishes today and went into the trailer.

Kate took a first place in the hunter class with Brave that day. She'd been dominating the competition over the last two months. The jumpers were next and Harper had drawn the last spot building the excitement of the crowd. The course was difficult there were more three rail jumps than usual and two with water it was if they made the course impossible to go through without fault. Harper was listening to Walter Keys her trainer give her the same instructions as always just before ridding out.

"Stay calm and give him his head Harper, are you listening?"

She missed him, she wished he was there, maybe in the crowd watching, and maybe he'd congratulate her if she won.

"I'm listening Walter, we're both in the best condition we've been in years."

She continued to search the crowd.

"It's not always about being in the best condition, you have to have the right attitude Harper, Neck Rider will feed off of your emotions and confidence."

She didn't see him in the crowd there was no one there for her. The bastard that had her parents killed was killing her too in a way. He was taking any happiness she could possibly have and killing it too. She couldn't forgive not getting the information from Ronald Beale if she did she'd be dishonoring her parents. A tear ran down her cheek and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. Then she got angry she'd be alone the rest of her life if that's what it took, but the bastard that had her parents killed would pay.

She rode in a circle before getting the start. Neck Rider threw his head back and lifted his front feet high eager to please. She let the reins go loose and urged him toward the first fence. He bolted toward it, Harper thought his strides were off and that she had him too excited letting her anger transfer to the horse. He blew through his nose hard and cleared the first three rail fence easily. Harper didn't pull him back and she couldn't control her angry thoughts, it was almost as if she wasn't there. Like a war horse Neck Rider charged the next two rails with water. He tossed his head and cleared the fence and water. He only had a short distance before another three rail fence, this was the one none of the other horses had cleared clean. Harper could feel every muscle in the tall horse, his strong strides pushed them, and then he jumped.

Neck Rider cleared the fence easily, she could hear the crowd gasp, Neck Rider charged through the course. Jumping wasn't a timed event but the big bay Hoisteiner finished without a fault and in a record time.

The crowd in the stands erupted in applause it was quite obvious who the crowd favorite was and who had won. The other owners and competitors were angry for the past weeks others had exchanged places finishing first and now Harpers first time back she had dominated the competition. It took a while for the award ceremony and for the crowd to disperse before Harper made her way back to her trailer. She was congratulated by Walter before he left. And by an excited Kate and Jose', Jason and his cousin didn't attempt any conversation but gave their congratulations. Harper never smiled once, Jose' tended to Neck Rider and she went to go inside the front part of her trailer when an older couple approached, she immediately recognized Mr. and Mrs. Wellington.

"Bravo Harper you gave the crowd quite a show today," Mrs. Wellington said in her demure manor.

"I offer my congratulations Harper you're doing more for the sport than anyone in years. There'll be right ups in main stream newspapers not just jumper's enthusiast publications," Mr. Wellington said. "However there for a moment I thought I was watching the training of a war horse."

Harper invited the older couple to come into the trailer with her for more privacy. There were people still taking photographs. She had them sit at the small table and booth seat while she got them a glass of water. Kate helped Jose' with the horses leaving them to talk privately not knowing who the older couple was but saw the love and respect Harper had for them.

"Thank you for the water dear," Mrs. Wellington said.

"I guess champagne would be more appropriate to serve and I have no doubt some of my competitors were prepared, I guess I don't feel like celebrating."

"Well that's obvious dear," Alexis said. "There's no happiness on your face Harper, you've lost weight, and your eyes don't have that sparkle that I saw when first we met."

"Now Alexis it's not our place to point out Harpers unhappiness, we're not her grandparents," Alexander said.

"I wish that you were. I won today but you're right sir, Neck Rider was feeling my mood and he charged the course. That's not the equestrian way, and it was as you said more suited to a war horse charge. I feel honored that he did it for me."

"Harper dear, you're fighting yourself, you love him and your pride is letting you suffer for it," Alexis said. "I take the liberty to speak my mind because of my age hopping I don't get told off and that you don't unleash one of your infamous tirades, and just so you'll know Faxon is in the same state."

Harper stood in the small kitchen, now her head was up and looking at them, just the mention of his name and she knew they had seen him.

"His smile is gone, he looks miserable and blames himself for your leaving him," Alexis continued. "Since we knew the story about your parents he told us what happened when you weren't with him. As hard as it was for me to believe what you would have done to that man to make him talk, it was equally as hard for me to believe that if Faxon could do it again he would have tortured that man himself to get the information so that you would have remained with him, and to have saved you from doing the unthinkable yourself."

Harper hung her head again partly for causing him so much pain, and partly for not being able to let go of the issue.

"It's hard to explain, it has to do with the way my father raised me. To forget what happened would be to deny my parents the ability to rest in peace. Until the man responsible has paid the ultimate price for their deaths I can't continue my life, I can't let it go."

"Then you'll have to come to the conclusion that you may never have peace in your life, or love," Alexander said. "What you may have to do could possibly leave scars that may never go away. I would suggest you put this resentment away and go back to Faxon."

"I agree," Alexis said.

"You said you saw him? You must have had information about the list," Harper said.

"You know how long the list was Harper," Alexander said. "My military connections did give me some information. There's several government agency's after the man that's responsible, because of different reasons but he is being pursued. I was able to narrow the list down to four, if you want the names you'll have to go get it from Faxon."

Harper didn't press the older man she had a lot of respect for them both, and knew no matter what she said he wouldn't give her any more information.

"None the less young lady we enjoyed your performance today," Alexander said. "We'll say a prayer Harper, a prayer that you find peace and love and that you come to an understanding of what it means to have someone like Faxon in your life. That man truly loves you Harper, he'd be willing to give up everything for you."

As Alexander and Alexis were leaving the trailer Alexis stopped.

"Alex I'd like to tell Harper one more thing dear I'll be right there." Alexis shut the trailer door and turned around to face Harper. "I just want to say one more thing. I'm sure if your mother were here she would say the same thing. Women often have to forgive our men, we're the strong ones dear, they make mistakes that sometimes hurt us, but they're too damn stupid to know what to say to make us feel better. It's not a weakness Harper for you to go to him. He's hurting Harper." Alexis kissed her cheek and left.

Harper encouraged Kate to go with Jason and Mat, then after she changed out of her riding clothes she went back home with Jose'. Harper worked putting tack and saddles away, brushing the horses, making sure the automatic water buckets were working and even gave them some oats before going up to the house. She was tired and mentally wore out, her mind kept thinking about her conversation with Alexander and Alexis. She pulled her boots off at the door as Aunt Rachel and Conner were just going out.

"If it's alright I thought we'd take the Porsche," Rachel said.

Harper looked up quickly, "no, you have your own car."

Rachel and Conner looked at each other.

"I told you didn't I," Rachel said.

"Don't gloat sweetheart what you don't realize is that you're more like Harper than you are willing to admit," Conner said.

"You bought that car for him, didn't you?" Rachel looked at Harper, "and you don't want anyone else to drive it, not even you. And we are different in one way, I can keep my man."

Harper was angry but was too tired to fight with Rachel. She walked around them and went upstairs to take a shower. After she sat on the side of the bed thinking about what had happened that day. She reached over and picked up her cell phone and dialed Ned Devine's.

"Yes I'd like to speak to William, yes the upstairs bar tender."

Harper waited while the girl downstairs transferred the call to the upstairs bar.

"Hello this is William."

"William, its Harper. I just wanted to call, I was having a bad day and I thought if I could just talk to someone it would make me feel better. You know what they say about bar tenders, they're like psychiatrist."

"Damn Harper, give me just a minute to get someone to cover for me," he said.

He got one of the waitresses then slipped out back on the stairs.

"Harper Faxon's not here, I don't know where he is but I guess the question is why the hell aren't you here with him? He hasn't told us anything but that you went back home."

"It's hard to explain William, how's he doing?"

"That's a crappy thing to ask Harper. He's a fucking train wreck. One night we had a guy get in a fight with another customer, and this guy was a big guy, I mean six foot six, three hundred pounds and Faxon kicked the shit out of this guy, put him in the hospital. Two nights ago there was this guy about five foot ten a buck eighty and Faxon let the guy beat him nearly to death. If I hadn't hit the guy in the back of the head with a beer bottle it would have been Faxon in the hospital."

"Is he ok now, what happened to him, who took care of him?"

"It took him two days to get out of bed, no stiches just bruised up good. The girls here at the bar took turns taking care of him."

"Good, I mean, I'm glad he has you and the girls to help him. I miss him William, but I'm afraid what's done is done."

"What the hell does that mean? Listen Harper you don't think that any of us thought you were Faxon's partner do you? Don't you see, none of us wanted to call you a client because we knew that stubborn son of a bitch wouldn't have anything to do with you. We all saw the way you two looked at each other and how shitty you both feel is proof we were right. Damn Harper how long you gonna torture the poor guy?"

"It's a little ironic you happen to put it that way, and I don't know the answer to that question William. Please don't tell him I called it'll just make things worse. You're a good friend William, and try not to let him do anything stupid again."

Harper hung up the phone and lay back on her bed and cried.

The next morning instead of her routine of going for a run and then working out she got dressed in a nice woman's business suit and went to the office.

Kate was the first one to meet her at the front desk. "Hey look at you. Do you have some appointments today?"

"I told the old man I'd come in and talk to him about the Lewis Towers project, and then I thought I'd go with Jason to a meeting that he has with the regional superintendent for Arlington Hospital."

Harper walked down the hall and didn't knock on Sam Shepard's open office door she just walked in and sat down.

"You're dressed nice," Sam said.

"I thought I'd go with Jason today."

"Well when you used to go to a business meeting that involved a contract you'd dress a little more, let's see, you know a little more sexy, get the guys attention. Is this about Faxon too?"

"I shouldn't have to dress like a hooker to get a contract signed Sam, and you can leave Faxon Bennett out of this conversation."

"Harper you lived with the guy, now I'm not stupid, you come back with a chip on your shoulder as big as a two by four, you've lost weight, and now you're wearing a business suit, come on, what the hell girl slap the guy around and straighten him out and get on with it."

"It's not that easy, it has to do with mom and dad."

"Ok, I'll leave it alone. I only want what's best for you girl."

Jason came into the office. "Kate said you wanted to go with me to the meeting with the hospital administrator."

After her conversation with Sam they decided to drive Jason's Mercedes instead of Harper pickup truck. The hospital was going to be built in Littleton so they had agreed to meet at a local steak house. When they came in the hospital regional superintendent was waiting just inside the front doors. His name was Laurence Strickland, he had already met Jason.

"Larry the boss wanted to meet you, this is Harper Lewis," Jason said.

Laurence was a good looking young man about the same age as Harper about six feet tall, same as Harper, black hair and eyes, he was slender.

"We'll I'm honored Ms. Lewis, my father has told me all about you."

"That sounds like a young man that works for his father," Harper said.

"It's true my father is chief administrator of all the Arlington Hospitals but this is my decision on who we hire for the construction, and I have the authorization to sign the contracts, so your time won't be wasted."

"This is Jason's job and he's very good at it, I'm just along for the free lunch."

She ordered grilled chicken, Jason and Laurence ordered steaks, Jason talked and went over some changes in the hospital blue prints that had to be made and Harper was impressed by his knowledge of technical requirements. Laurence only halfway paid attention he kept looking at Harper and smiling. Jason gave his pitch stating the Lewis company reputation for getting jobs done on time and within budget, then sighted recent jobs Laurence had examined as examples.

"I like everything I hear and to be totally honest my father said I'd be crazy to choose anyone else for the simple fact job completion on time is very important to us. I am very compelled to ask Harper some questions though."

"I don't mind answering any of your questions Mr. Strickland but I can't guarantee you will like my answers, or that you won't be offended."

"Did you really kill your husband, and business partner?"

"I did, I stabbed him in the crotch and he bleed out on the upstairs floor of my home. I was actually aiming for something else but cut the femoral artery, just the same I'm glad he's dead. And for your information I couldn't get the blood completely out of the wood floors and had to replace them."

"Jason I guess failure has a whole new meaning for you as an employee I'm sure," Laurence said as he smiled."

"Oh that's not all," Harper said. "I killed a man no more than six weeks ago outside a bar in the inner harbor area of Boston. Of course he was trying to kill me, I kicked him and he fell on his back and a piece of rebar went through his chest. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Well I was also told you could cuss like a sailor and often insulted those you did business with, but I have to say I'm visualizing myself being sexually dominated by you."

Jason shook his head and comically put his hands over his ears expecting Harper to give him exactly what he wanted.

"Well we can't have you leaving disappointed, I wouldn't waist my fucking time on a skinny piece of shit like you, I doubt you have the balls to truly give me pleasure, I'd as soon be fucked by a goat than a slimy bastard like you. I'd kick your fucking ass right now if not that I think you'd get off on yourself."

Jason's face was red, and he started to put the contracts back in his brief case.

"No, no, no, I got just what I asked for," Laurence said. "I'll be glad to sign. Just think of the story I have to tell at my next gala, I'll be the talk of the room."

Harper got up and left, it had only made her angry and was near taking her frustrations out on the hospital regional superintendent. Jason got to the car five minutes after her.

"Damn Harper," Jason said as they drove back to the office. "Please tell me you won't be going with me again. I think I'm gonna have nightmares. Did you really do those things, I mean the guy down in the inner harbor?"

"Yes, I did, but I'm not proud of it, I can still see him squirming around with that piece of rebar sticking out of his chest before he died."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"Hello Faxon Bennett investigations. (pause) Hello Barbie, I'm fine, how are you? (pause) Harper went home for a while is all. Looking for her mother and father's killer became a little overwhelming. (pause) I don't think that would be a good idea. (pause) Yes if I need someone to talk to I'll call you. (pause) Yes Landau offered one of his older daughters. (pause) Yes they're very pretty, (pause) yes and rich, (pause) no I'm not stupid just in love. (pause) Ok, thanks for calling."

Faxon fell back on the couch and finished the beer he was drinking, and his phone rang again.

"Hello Faxon Bennett Investigations. (pause) Hello Shira it's good to hear from you again. (pause) Yes I did help Anya get her money back. (pause) Ok, Landau's money back. (pause) Yes I think he stayed the night. I left so I don't know what their sleeping arrangements were. (pause) No I haven't talked to her in several weeks. (thanks) Thanks, I miss her. (pause) A party at your house, I really don't feel like a party Shira but thanks for asking, and thanks for the referrals. (pause) Yah, we'll talk again soon, bye."

"Crap, I'm going to need a lot more beer." His phone rang again.

"Faxon Bennett Investigations," he said.

"Faxon, its Alexis Wellington."

"Mrs. Wellington what a pleasant surprise, nothing's wrong with Mr. Wellington is there?"

"My no the old goat is still stubborn as ever. We went to the New England horse show last week. I just wanted to call and tell you we saw Harper."

Faxon sat up on the couch, his heart was suddenly beating faster. "How is she?"

"She took a first in the jumping event it was a marvelous display, I don't think anyone there will soon forget. She charged the fences as if she was angry, Harper's lost weight noticeably its plan to see she's not happy Faxon. We got the chance to sit in her trailer and I all but scolded her. However she is very stubborn and insist you ruined her chance to find out the identity of the man that ordered her parents deaths. With that said Faxon how is your search coming with the four men?"

"I have the best man on the east coast searching for them, no one can hide from technology, and I'll find them."

"Well that might solve both of your problems, if there's anything I can do to relay a message to Harper I may be one of the only people she'll listen to. I really won't be happy until the two of you are together again."

"Thank you Mrs. Wellington, you made me feel a little better today. I love her you know."

"She said the same Faxon, she loves you too."

Faxon went to the small table in the kitchen where his laptop was and got another beer before searching u-tube videos of the New England horse show event. There were several posted all with their own comments of the event. Most were family members capturing video of their own horses or a family member riding. But there were several of the last rider of the day, and plenty of comments from the posters, all negative.

Harper looked angry from what Faxon could see at the distance where the people stood recording her. She didn't take any assistance getting on Neck Rider like the others did. The tall horse stamped his feet and his ears were laid back, he threw his head back and down anxious to go. Harper reached down and patted his neck and then they turned in a circle and charged the first fence clearing it easily. She seem to attack the course not caring if she faulted or not only that she push her horse around the course like she had something to prove. In the end it was a flawless ride and the applause from the crowd was deafening on the recording.

Faxon watched several other postings of the final ride and found one that was close in the end as Harper received her prize, it was then Faxon noticed the obvious weight loss. He shut the laptop and got another beer and drank it down. He drank two more beers before going to the bar and sitting in his normal spot, a stool at the end. William set a beer in front of him then noticed he was nearly drunk.

"Have you had anything to eat?"

"No, I was just watching some u-tube videos of the New England horse show, Harper took a first place. She can't even have the decency to lose so I can feel she's upset about our breakup."

"You know that's not the way she is. I bet she gave them one hell of a show. I'd hate to be the guy that tries to push her around right now," William said. "You want something to eat?"

"No, thanks," Faxon said.

As he sat there and finished another beer the three upstairs waitresses would come by and rub his back, or kiss his cheek, and try to cheer him up. William refused to give him another beer. Faxon got up off the stool and fell on the floor. William and one of the girls help get him to his small apartment and left him comfortably lying on his old couch. Lyn found a light blanket in the bedroom and covered him.

The next morning his head pounded and it was all he could do to get up and take four aspirin and drink a large glass of water and lay back down. It was 11:00am when his cell phone rang, he got up and answered just before it stopped, he didn't answer in his usual way.

"Hello," he said in a very low voice.

"Faxon, its Lew. I've got some information for you."

"You've got something on those four names I gave you to track down?"

"Only on one, Armand Verger, he's working as a security specialist for the Chinese government. He's suspected of technical espionage here in the US. He's a really bad guy but he's been in Beijing so he couldn't be our man. If he ever steps foot in the US again he'll be arrested."

"What about the other three scumbags, one of these guys has got to be our man."

"I'll run' em down Faxon but it takes time. That's not why I called. I found Linda Walker and her two daughters Katie and Mindy."

"That's the wife of Jessie Walker. I've forgotten I asked you to look for her. Jessie Walker was the ex-Marine that caused the head on crash with Clayton Lewis and his wife right?"

"Ya, she's living in a middle class neighborhood outside of Philadelphia, she's getting some government assistance but someone's helping her. She's got one daughter in middle school and the younger girl is in elementary school. That's all I could find out Faxon.

"This is good Lew. I'll bet she knows our guy, send me the address on my phone."

Faxon began to make a plan. He needed her to give him the man's name that had convinced her alcoholic, drug addicted, husband to kill Harper's parents, this could be what he needed to get Harper to forgive him. He thought about bribing her, but that might not work this guy was probably taking care of her. Maybe if he just met her and pretended to be interested she may tell him about the guy helping her. Maybe the older daughter might tell him under the right circumstances. One thing was for sure he had to get to Philadelphia.

He packed a bag and snuck out the back avoiding any questions about where he was going. Faxon had called for a cab and it waited in the ally, he got in the back and they drove off to the airport.

It was a short flight and he rented a minivan at the airport when he landed and instead of finding a hotel he drove until he found the neighborhood, street, and house number of where Linda Walker was living. There were two girl's bicycles leaning against the side of the house and a year old car in the driveway. The garage door was open and he could see some boxes stacked against the wall and that was all.

Two girls walked down the street away from the house, they both looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old, he saw them go to another house down the block and across the street. After a few minutes a younger girl about ten came out of the garage and she got on the smaller of the bicycles and rode down the sidewalk toward him. She looked at him and ran off the sidewalk and into a light pole, fell down, and skinned her knee. She began to cry after she looked at her knee and Faxon jumped out and went to help her.

"What's your name sweetheart?"

"Mindy," she cried.

"Well it's not bad, shake it off tough girls like you shouldn't cry over a little skinned knee."

She sniffed a couple of times and stopped crying, proud that this stranger thought she was special.

"I've never seen you on our street before," she said. "You think I'm a tough? I can run faster than anyone in my class at play time. What's your name?"

"I think you're pretty tough, you took that spill pretty good. My names Faxon, you want me to see you home?"

"Yea sure, you can meet my mom, Faxon, that's a funny name."

Faxon walked with the small girl down the sidewalk, he rolled the small bicycle along with one hand. Up into the garage he leaned the bicycle against the wall and the little girl limped over to the door, opened it, and yelled.

"Mommy, I hurt myself."

Linda came running to the garage door she was barefoot and wore jeans with stylish holes in the knees, and a white V-neck t-shirt. Faxon could see the laundry room was just inside. She fell to her knees and held the small girls leg, she didn't see Faxon standing over to the side. She was an attractive woman a little younger than he was. If she had gone through hard times the effects were no longer obvious. She had long legs and narrow hips and a small waist but certainly not skinny or underweight. She had a great figure, her hair was brown, very long, wavy, and it had a healthy shine. Her eyes were large and brown she had high cheek bones and her mouth seemed a little large it reminded him of an old picture of Carly Simon, pouty lips and all.

"Mindy what did you do sweetie?"

"I fell off my bicycle, but I'm tough Mom, I didn't cry, much. My friend Faxon helped me."

Linda just noticed him standing in the garage. "Oh, I'm sorry I don't think I know you sir."

"My names Faxon Bennett, ma'am, I didn't mean to startle you, your daughter was riding her bicycle and fell, I'm afraid I was the cause of the accident. I was sitting in my car and when she looked over at me, well she fell."

"I'd hardly call that your fault Mr. Bennett."

"Well I just wanted to explain to you and your husband."

"My father died in a car accident," Mindy blurted out.

"Mr. Bennett doesn't need to know that sweetheart, here let me get something to wipe that knee and I'll get a bandage. By the way my names Linda Walker and I see you've met my younger daughter Mindy. You weren't looking for our house were you?"

"Well not exactly, I was looking for a house, a rental house I was supposed to meet someone, a furnished rental house, and I was depending on that for my place to stay tonight, were you expecting someone?"

"It's not important," Linda said. She wiped Mindy's knee and put on some antiseptic and a band aid. Mindy gritted her teeth but didn't cry.

"That's good Mindy you didn't cry, where did you get this I'm tough thing you said?"

"From Faxon Mom, he told me to shake it off big girls like me are tough."

"I think sometimes a little positive self-confidence is important in a kids life especially girls. But if I've overstepped myself I apologize."

"I think you could be right, I'm afraid I baby her a little too much. You're welcome to come in I could offer you a cup of coffee. You said you were looking for a rental house maybe I could help. I know most of the homes in the neighborhood."

"Mom, what's for dinner," Mindy asked?

"Soup dear," Linda said to her daughter. Faxon noticed the look on the little girls face.

"Not again Mom," the little girl said. "You said when we moved here things would be different."

"Not in front of our guest Mindy. We get some assistance and it's overdue, that's why I asked if you were looking for the house. The man that helps support us sometimes sends one of his employees, I haven't been able to contact him, but that's nothing I should be telling you."

"It's ok, Mindy's made me feel like part of the family," Faxon said. "I tell you what why don't you let me take you and your daughters out for dinner tonight, we'll call it payment for helping me find a place to stay tomorrow, and maybe you could suggest a hotel nearby."

"Say yes Mom please," Mindy begged.

"Well Mr. Bennett that is very nice of you but I do have another daughter, maybe that would be taking advantage of your generosity," Linda said. "Katie's over at Cindy's house, Mindy why don't you go get her we don't want to keep Mr. Bennett waiting he's probably hungry."

Mindy ran for the garage door. "Me too," she said.

"She has quite the personality that one does," Faxon said as they stood in the kitchen. "I know you don't really know me or anything but I can assure you I'm not a pervert or anything." Faxon pulled out his wallet and removed his driver's license. "Here's my driver's license, and my voters registration card, my old Boy Scout ID, my gun permit, and my PI license, so you can see I'm associated with the Boston Police Department, which usually impresses the ladies."

Linda looked through the cards smiling. "It's you registered as a republican that disturbs me the most." They both laughed. "You're just full of surprises Mr. Bennett. Who are the older couple in that picture?"

"I'll tell but you have to promise to call me Faxon. That's my mom and dad, they live in Palm Beach, their retired, and I haven't seen them in two years."

Mindy and Katie ran into the house. "Mom you can't be serious, we don't even know this guy he could be a damn rapist or serial killer or something."

"Shut up Katie," Mindy said. "He's my friend, Mom Katie said damn."

Katie was thirteen going on sixteen definitely a product of the hard life growing up with a drug addicted, alcoholic father living in public housing.

"Here look Faxon's been showing me his ID and family pictures. He's a private detective too and has worked with the Boston Police Department."

"He has a gun permit," Katie said as she looked at the ID's.

"I don't have a gun on me, and I only use it when I absolutely need it. I'm also a pretty tough guy, I was military Special Forces."

"My father was a marine," Katie said.

"Ok that's enough if we're going out you both go change," Linda said.

"You're the one that needs to change Mom," Katie said. "You're not going out like that you dress like you're a teenager."

Both girls went to their rooms and Linda turned to Faxon. "You're going to think I'm a little crazy but it's important I know if you have any tattoos, and I'm going to have to see your right arm and shoulder."

Faxon didn't hesitate he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it over his right shoulder, he knew why she wanted to see and that was a good sign that she knew some of the ex-Marines from Echo Company were bad guys.

"Ok, you can put your shirt back on, but slowly," Linda smiled. "I'll explain that another time. Be right back," and she was off to change.

They rode in the rental minivan and went to a local steak house. Faxon made sure that the girls ordered whatever they wanted despite Linda's objections. He ordered a big porterhouse, rare. It was the house specialty, two inches thick, with a loaded baked potato and a Cesar salad. Linda ordered a small filet and Faxon upgraded it to the largest one they had, the girls laughed. Mindy insisted on sitting next to Faxon in the booth, she ordered the chicken fingers with fries and a large milk shake. Katie ordered a steak and baked potato trying to be like the adults.

Faxon and Linda talked about hotels in the area. "Mom can't Faxon stay with us instead of a hotel," Mindy asked innocently? It was an uncomfortable moment when no one said anything.

"We don't have an extra room," Katie said. "Where's he going to sleep?"

"He can stay in my room," Mindy answered. "I can sleep in mom's big bed, we shouldn't make him go to a hotel is all, not after buying our dinner."

"Well if it would help you out I'd be glad to pay the same rate as I would at the hotel, and just so everyone knows, I don't snore, I've stayed up and listened and I've never heard myself."

That made Katie and Linda laugh. Katie explained the joke to Mindy.

After dinner they walked out to the minivan, Mindy walked beside Faxon and held his hand. He opened the side door and helped her in. He offered his hand to Katie and she rolled her eyes and got in, then he opened the passenger's door for Linda. Faxon parked beside the small car in the driveway and everyone went in through the garage and into the house. The girls had school tomorrow and Linda put Mindy to bed in her room, she let Katie stay up a little while longer to watch a show on television. Faxon carried in his bag and put it in Mindy's room and he put two hundred dollars on the kitchen counter as he walked by. Katie went to bed Faxon heard her tell her mother to shut her door and lock it, Linda said goodnight and thanked him for the money. Faxon watched the news then went into Mindy's room to go to bed. It was a small single bed, it had a pink blanket and Faxon put on a pair of gym shorts and a white t-shirt to sleep in.

There was no clock in the room but Faxon knew he hadn't been to sleep a couple hours when he heard the side door in the kitchen being forced open. His natural instinct told him something was wrong, he looked out the doorway down the hall and the other doors were shut and he assumed locked.

He looked the other way and saw a man walk around the corner with a knife in his hand. He heard the man speaking in an Arabic dialect to another man. Faxon moved a small child's size wooden table into the center of the room and grabbed his belt. He slipped the end through the buckle making a loop and stood behind the door. The first man walked by looking down the hall, the second man stepped into the room. He also had a knife with a curved blade in his right hand. Faxon grabbed his right wrist and yanked down and twisted his hand back and up, at the same time he looped the belt over his head and pulled as hard as he could with his left hand tightening the belt around the man's neck. When the man reached up with his left hand to his neck Faxon tripped him and slammed his head down into the table knocking him out.

Faxon grabbed the small lamp off the bedside table and quickly stepped out into the hall. The other man was stepping back after trying the bedroom door handle and finding it locked, he was just about to kick it in and Faxon took three steps and kicked him between the legs from behind and at the same time hit him in the back of the head and broke the lamp knocking the Arabic man unconscious.

"Faxon, what's going on out there," Linda yelled through the door?

"Linda, two men have broken into the house, don't be afraid. I took care of everything but you should stay in your rooms until the police get here."

"Are you alright," Mindy asked?

"I'm fine girl, you stay in there with your mom, and I'm going to call 911."

Katie cracked her door open and saw the man lying on the hallway floor, and Faxon reached over and closed it. "You too," he said.

Faxon went to his bag and used zip ties to secure the two unconscious men then dialed 911 on the home phone.

"911, what's your emergency," asked the operator.

"Two men broke into my friends home and their unconscious in the house could you please send someone quick."

"The police are on the way sir. How is it their unconscious?"

"Well I rammed one of their heads into a table, and hit the other one with a lamp, I'm afraid I broke the lamp. Then I used zip ties to secure their hands and feet, but they're still unconscious."

"Who are you? Are you an officer," asked the operator.

"I'm a licensed private detective from Boston. I was just visiting a friend, these men broke in, they had knives, they were going to kill my friend and her two daughters."

In only a few minutes Faxon could hear the police pull up out front and two officers came in with their guns drawn. One of them held him against the wall in the kitchen while the other one checked the two men. They were still unconscious.

"I didn't touch the knives you'll find theirs are the only prints on them. My ID is in my wallet with my PI license and if you ask the lady she'll tell you I'm their guest."

Two more officers came in and soon the girls and Linda were in the living room explaining what had happened. The officers let Faxon go and Mindy ran to him and he scooped her up.

"Are you alright," the little girl asked?

"I'm fine, now back to your mom while I talk to the officers."

When the EMS technicians showed up they revived the two unconscious Arabic men and they were put in the back of one of the squad cars. They never spoke and finally a detective showed up and after he talked with the officers first on the scene Faxon was able to talk to him.

"You're going to find out neither of these men can speak English detective. There were no identification on them but I'm sure their Saudi nationals."

"And how is it you know these things, Mr. Bennett isn't it?" He looked at his notes from the arriving officers.

"It is, I'm a private detective from Boston, and I got involved in this case with a young woman whose parents were killed. There's been several murders in Boston all believed to be ordered by the same unknown man. He's suspected to be behind a billion dollar theft ring, smuggling arms to radical Islamic solders, money laundering, and the deaths of several other influential Boston business men that wouldn't cooperate with him. Not to mention several ex-Marines that worked for him. You only need to contact Detective John Walker with the Boston police department to verify my story."

"And these Saudi men what's their roll in this, and why is it you think they would want Ms. Walker and her daughters killed, Mr. Bennett?"

"The man responsible, well she knows his identity, he's used all the influence he has with his ex-Marine criminal associates and has resorted to using men loyal to his Saudi partners."

"Does she know who the man is," asked the detective?

"I'm not sure," Faxon said.

"First thing in the morning I'll call Detective Walker and confirm your story. I'll book these two on breaking and entering, assault, and attempted murder, and whatever else I can think up. But if they can't speak English and we need an interpreter and if they're not US citizens it's likely the state department is going to get involved. Hell I don't know what will happen. Good job making sure we didn't respond to a real tragedy."

Faxon walked back into the house and all the officers left. One was parked outside the rest of the night. Linda and the girls had gotten most of the story from the responding officer's report about how both men had curved knives and how Faxon had taken care of both of them. Mindy asked a lot of questions even one about what had happened to her lamp. Katie was quiet and wiped away tears and thanked him again and again, she looked at him in a different way than before. Linda waited until the girls weren't around she stood close and whispered.

"What the hell Faxon, what's going on?"

"You know what's going on Linda, but I don't want to talk about it until we're alone and the girls won't disturb us. I don't see any reason to traumatize them any more than they already are."

"Well I'm not sending them to school today. Katie has a friend down the block I'm friends with her mother I'll walk over and see if the girls can stay there for a little while. Everyone on the block probably wants to know what happened."

Linda told the girls she wanted them out of the way until she could get the house cleaned up and they weren't going to school today. She walked down the block to Katie's friend's house Sadie and her single parent mother, Ann. It took a few minutes to explain the break in and then it was back to the house. Faxon stood in the kitchen he had made a pot of coffee in the drip maker and poured them both a cup.

"I feel like you know more than you're telling me," Linda said after taking a sip from her cup.

"Well we feel the same way then, Linda those men last night they had knives and they were here to kill you and the girls. One day and I wouldn't have been here and the three of you would be dead. You told me you had someone helping take care of your expenses, I think whoever it is now wants to take care of the three of you in a different way."

Linda dropped her cup of coffee and leaned over the sink. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Yes I do know more than I'm telling you, I'm working a case for someone, two people were killed in a car accident, Clayton and Lindsey Lewis, it was a high speed head on crash just outside of Boston, a place called Littleton, and the man driving the other car was your husband ensign Jessie Walker. The man helping you had them killed because they wouldn't sell a prime piece of property to his company."

"Oh shit, oh God you know about that? Was that their names, oh God, he killed them."

"He killed them because the same man that was paying you to be quiet asked him to. Probably because he made a deal to take care of you and the girls, this man you're protecting was probably his commanding officer is my guess. Your husband was addicted to drugs probably from his time in Afghanistan, and an alcoholic, he thought he was making the best deal he could for you and the girls. This guy convinced other ex-Marines that served under him to steal semi-trucks and trailers and the goods shipped to Saudi Arabia through a company called the Marine Group with a Saudi national listed as CEO. Those men were killed by police. They would have sooner died than been arrested."

"This man that's been paying you for your silence paid another of his men under his command, Ensign Race Thorpe sniper, to shoot a man named Parker Doss because he wouldn't sell a piece of prime downtown property to him. Ensign Thorpe shot himself in the head to keep from being arrested for the murder, or being forced to name the man."

"There's a man in jail right now, Ensign Ronald Beale, entry specialist, this man convinced him to sneak into a condo building and break into an elderly man's apartment. Mr. Martin Samuels, and then he carried him up to the roof and threw him off. He's the only one still alive."

"There's been others, men that served under this man, one hit and killed by a car running from the law, another trying to get away fell and was pierced through the chest by a piece of rebar. Lives ruined, families ruined, all because of this man's greed. He sells illegal arms to radical Islamic men that kill Americans overseas, and now Linda the authorities, police, NSA, FBI, are all looking for him and now he's trying to kill you and the girls."

Faxon put the piece of paper with the three names on the counter. Linda cried, she wiped her face with a dish towel not knowing the horror that this man had done to so many people.

"I've narrowed it down to three men, and he'll be eventually found and prosecuted, it's come too far. He won't stop trying to kill you and the girls and you have to let me help you. I can protect you, keep you safe, you have to know that now. I'll do more than that, I'll take care of the girls, I'll make sure they have good educations and both go to college."

Linda put her arms around his neck and Faxon put his hands on her hips. She cried on his shoulder and after a minute she pulled away and kissed him hard on the lips then stepped away. She looked down at the counter and the three names. Faxon held his breath, and finally she pointed to one of the names on the paper. That was it, he had the name, months of work the deaths of a dozen men, Harper, and now he had the name of the man that had come to cause him so much pain.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Faxon had called a moving company and prepaid to have them come and pack everything in the house and have it shipped to a storage facility in Boston. They took the rental minivan and started driving back to Boston. It was only about a five hour drive and they had some time to talk. He told them about his friend Lew Kirin a computer genius, he told them about his friend Detective John Walker, and James Cullen, Boston Herald reporter, and of course everyone at Ned Devine's from the owners Ronald and Sophie McFarland to William and all the girls that worked there.

He took his time explaining about how he became friends with Landau Comaneci, Faxon explained he was from Rumania, Mindy asked where that was and the three of them tried to explain. The conversation got more complicated when he explained Landau had three sets of triplets with three different wives. The part they liked the most was when Faxon described his home outside of Boston, and the home in the Hamptons and his hundreds of acres and castle in Romania. It took a little time for him to explain that they may need to stay with him at some point not only for their safety but because he would have to work. That meant looking for the most wanted man on the East coast.

Their first home was going to be the small apartment above the bar at Ned Devine's. Faxon had the opportunity to talk to Linda about her testifying in front of a grand jury and eventually in court against the man that had tried to kill her and her daughters. She would first have to be interviewed by Detective Walker and the district attorney, and maybe representatives from the FBI and NSA.

Faxon parked the car in the alley, and they all carried bags up the back staircase to the second floor entrance. William was in the storeroom and introductions were made.

"William this is my special friend Mindy," Faxon said. It made the little girl feel special to be introduced first. "And oh yea, her mom and sister, Linda and Katie," he said as if they were just along for the ride.

"Well it's nice to meet you ladies, so you've come to stay with us for a while, I hope you can teach this guy some manners, we thought he'd run away without saying goodbye."

Up the steps to the apartment Faxon opened the door.

"It's a little small but I hope you're not here long, I'll get a couple single beds brought in tomorrow for this other room in here. There's a grocery store just down the block so make a list of anything you need, maybe we can all go shopping tomorrow. I thought tonight we'd have dinner down in the restaurant."

"Where are you going to sleep Faxon," Mindy asked.

"Don't worry about me little one, I thought you could sleep with your mom in the bedroom and Katie could sleep on the couch just for tonight. I won't be far, I'll make sure you're safe don't worry. Now look around and make yourself comfortable there's cable with all the channels and Katie you can use my laptop it's on the table, I'll be right back and we'll go have dinner."

He walked down the stairs and sat in the storeroom. He dialed Sam Shepard's phone number.

"Hello Sam, its Faxon Bennett."

"Good to hear from you Faxon, I hope you're calling to ask about Harper. I wish you two would patch things up, she's really unhappy you know."

"Soon Sam, you know I love her, but she has to forgive me before we can be together again and I think we're gonna be close to that happening soon. I can't say anymore but I'm expecting a break in the case. I called because I need to talk with Rachel and I'd rather Harper not know about it."

"I have her cell phone number let me know when you're ready."

"Go ahead." He remembered the number then entered it into his phone and called her."

"Rachel, it's Faxon, please if you're around Harper don't let her know it's me."

"I'm in the pool house with Conner. It's really good to hear from you, please tell me you're here to see her. She would love to see you, she wouldn't turn you away she loves you Faxon."

"I love her too Rachel, but she has to forgive me. I can't explain over the phone but that's going to happen soon, it's one of the reasons I had to call you. Can you and Conner come into the city tomorrow morning, it's important Rachel I need a favor."

"Well ya, sure, what time and where do you want us to meet you?"

"8:00 am if that's not too early, and I need you to come to Ned Devine's, I'll meet you at the front door no one will be there that early, but I'll let you in. And Rachel I know you're both license to carry so could you come armed? I don't expect any trouble but it wouldn't hurt to be safe, I'll explain when I see you."

"I carry everywhere I go Faxon, Conner too. Harper runs every morning I can leave while she's gone and not have to explain, I'll see you in the morning."

Faxon went back to the apartment Katie was using his cell phone talking to her friend back home, Mindy was playing a game on the laptop, and Linda was sitting on the couch watching HGTV.

"Let's go get something to eat," Faxon said.

They went downstairs and sat in a booth in the bar. One after another every waitress came over to meet Linda and the girls. Even some of the girls downstairs came up just to say hello and tease Faxon. He could see by the look on their faces they thought Linda was Harpers replacement, but he couldn't get into that conversation right then.

After dinner the girls had ice cream and soon Mindy's eyes were closing, Faxon carried her up the steps and into the bedroom laying her down. Faxon told Linda he'd be close by and they'd have breakfast in the morning together. He mentioned a tutor coming in the morning to meet with the girls. He didn't want their education to suffer. When he walked out Linda stepped out with him and closed the door behind her. She reached out and held his hand.

"I saw pictures of a tall blond girl riding horses on your laptop, it's not hard to see you're sad about something, you're hurt, broken hearted. I know we don't know each other that way but I could easily see myself loving you."

"It would be so easy for me too Linda, you're young and beautiful and I already love your girls, and no matter what happens I want to be a part of their lives. And with that comes everyone that knows me, but I love someone else. I don't know if we'll ever be together and yes she broke my heart, but right now I can't help the way I feel."

Linda leaned over and kissed him. "You're a damn good man Faxon Bennett and thank you for everything."

Linda went back inside and locked the door, then bolted it, and put the chain on.

"Mom, are you and Faxon, well are you two going to be a couple," Katie asked? She had already changed and had her nightshirt on and was lying on the couch with a pillow and a blanket.

"I don't think so sweetheart," Linda said.

"He's in love with that tall blond girl we saw riding those horses isn't he?"

"Yes Katie, he is."

"I wonder what happened between them that their not together, Faxon's such a good guy, and I can't imagine what he could have done to make her leave him."

"I can't either Katie, but I want you to know he really likes you and Mindy and he wants to be a part of your lives. That's a very valuable thing Katie. Now you go to sleep, Faxon said he has a private tutor coming to meet you tomorrow."

Faxon stayed in the bar until closing time it was only William and him, he leaned his head down on his crossed arms as he sat at the bar and William counted the night's receipts.

"So what's going on Faxon, Linda's pretty and I can tell you really like the girls but it's not like you to get over Harper so quickly."

"I'm not over Harper William. This is all about Harper. Her name is Linda Walker her husband was Ensign Jessie Walker, he's the man that killed Harper's parents. The man that organized their death, he's been supporting them according to the agreement he made with Ensign Walker, but now the Government is after him and he tried to have them all killed. If I hadn't been there his plan would've worked, so now I've convinced her to testify against him, but I've accepted the responsibility of taking care of them. So you see William this is all about Harper, Linda's young and pretty and I've already committed myself to her and the girls. Their great kids they deserve a good life, and well, it would be so easy for me to be with Linda, except for one huge pain in my ass. I still love Harper."

"You're the best man I know Faxon, so where are you going to stay the night," William asked?

"I guess on the floor in the storeroom, it'll be close, no one would be able to get up the stairs without me hearing them. Although I don't think anyone will find them here, and you need to keep this story to yourself just keep letting the girls around here believe I've lost my senses over Harper and I've taken up with a widow and her two daughters. They won't be here long, just until Linda testifies in front of a grand jury, then I think I have somewhere more suitable for them."

William rummaged through some of the restaurant's closets and storage rooms and found a pile of old tablecloths. Faxon made a crude bed on the floor of the storage room.

Up early he walked up the steps to the door of the apartment and listened for anyone up and moving around inside but the smell of bacon cooking answered his question and he knocked. Katie opened the door, she had on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt, Mindy sat on the couch playing a game on his laptop, she was dressed similar. Linda stood at the stove, she was bare foot and wore a long t-shirt that she obviously slept in, it came down to mid-thigh, Faxon looked away thinking about Harper standing there doing the same thing, only in a much shorter shirt.

"Mom, go get dressed," Katie said. She pulled her mom by the arm into the bedroom as Faxon looked the other way, Linda laughed at his embarrassment.

"The bacon's going to burn," she said from the bedroom.

"I got it, I haven't been a bachelor this long without learning to cook a little, how do you girls like your eggs?"

"Scrambled hard," they both said at the same time. "Mom says you have a tutor coming to meet us this morning," Katie said.

"I don't want you to get behind in school. You'll like her she's tough but fair, and you'll learn a lot more than just reading and writing. Come on sit up here at the table."

"I made a list of some things we need," Linda said coming out of the bedroom. She was dressed similar to her daughters, jeans, button up the front shirt, and tennis shoes, she was brushing her hair. "I hope we can get out today even if it's just to go shopping."

"How do you like your eggs," Faxon asked?

"Same as the girls," she said.

"Well I need to buy a couple of single beds for the girls, and we can go by the grocery store, but we're going to have to work on your look a little bit. Sunglasses and maybe a ball cap for you and the girls. But we don't go anywhere until the tutor has evaluated Katie and Mindy, and with that said I'll leave you to eat and I'll go down to meet them at the door."

"I should be fixing you breakfast, not the other way around," Linda rubbed his back as he put her scrambled eggs and bacon on her plate. "Where did you sleep last night? On the floor, your backs all in knots," she said.

Faxon turned around and handed her the plate. "Don't worry about me, I was close," he smiled and looked into those large brown eyes. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or the girls." It was hard not to lean over and kiss her, she wanted it and to be truthful he did too. "I have to go downstairs and let them in when they get here."

Rachel and Conner had gotten up earlier than they normally would have. She fought off Conner's early morning attentions and went to the house to see if Harper had gone for her morning run. She was gone and her and Conner got in the Audie and drove away from the house. They were about to park on the street near the restaurant when Rachel's cell phone rang.

"It's Harper, no doubt wondering where we went I don't like lying to her. Hello, good morning Harper how was your run?"

"Punishing as always, where are you and Conner going so early today? Hell I didn't think you two got off each other until noon."

"We decided to spend the day in the city today."

"Why do I think there's more to this story than you're telling me?"

"Probably because you're an over curious, must know everything, bitch. We just wanted to have some fun don't be jealous you had someone to spend time with, call him, maybe it's not too late and he'll take your suborn ass back."

"Ok, have a good time."

"It's stopped shocking me how you two talk to each other, crap how long will it be before I start talking like the two of you," Conner said.

Harper thought for a minute, then picked up her cell phone. "Lew, hi, it's Harper how are you doing?"

"Harper, are you and Faxon together again?"

"No Lew, not exactly, we still have something that's unresolved, but I need your help."

"Harper I don't want to get in the middle of anything, if it's something to do with Faxon I'd rather stay out of it."

"It's about my Aunt Rachel she's keeping something from me. I just want to know where she's been going. If you could check her GPS locations for today I'd be glad to pay you whatever you want Lew, you can do that can't you?"

"Yea I can do it, give me the cell number and I'll check it out."

As soon as they got to the door Faxon was unlocking it to let them in. He hugged Rachel, very uncharacteristic of him.

"It's hard for me," Faxon said. "You're so much like her."

"Sorry Faxon she's taken," Conner said as they shook hands.

"You look like shit," Rachel said. "You're both stupid. Now tell me what this is about."

"Come on let's sit down, do you know why were not with each other?"

"Yea she explained it and I don't agree with her, torturing someone is not acceptable I believe you're right it would have changed her and you. You did the right thing, I also told her you wouldn't give up."

"You're right there. The man that actually drove the car into Harper's parent's car was talked into killing himself. He made a deal with the man we've been looking for. The deal was this man would support his wife and two daughters and for a long time I've been looking for them."

"You found them," Rachel said.

"I did, they were living in Philly, I went there and the first night I was there the man sent two men to kill them. Long story short I convinced her and her daughters to come here with me and she agreed to reveal the man's name and testify against him. I promised I'd take care of them Rachel."

"Ok, do you know the man's name," Rachel asked?

"I do, but Linda needs to interview with Detective Walker and the States Attorney General and then the Grand Jury."

"Damn-it Faxon call Harper and tell her and this shit between you two will be over."

"I can't, she has to find out on her own so I don't want you to say anything to her. It'll be all over the news soon enough. She has to forgive me, and it has to be her idea."

"So what's my part in all this," she asked?

"The two girls are going to be kept out of school for a while until their mother finishes testifying. In just a little while I'll have another place for them to go, but not until Linda testifies. I need you to tutor the girls so they don't fall behind in school. I made a promise Rachel, if you don't want to do it I'll understand. I thought today you could talk to the girls get a feel of where they are and then we can buy whatever text books and materials they need."

"I can see it on your face Faxon, you like these girls. Is their mother attractive?"

"Attractive and young, and yes I like the girls, but I'm in love with Harper, and she knows it, nothing's happened if that's what you're thinking."

"So are they going to know who I am," Rachel asked.

"They only know you're a tutor come to help them, but I don't want you to lie, if it comes up you can tell them whatever you want. I think their safe here nobody knows who they are or where they are, when Linda testifies it's gonna go public and be all over the news and I'll have to move them then. In the mean time I just want you both to be prepared, the man behind this has sent some bad guys to try and kill them and they won't hesitate killing anyone in their way. Rachel I'll pay you whatever you want for your time and help, and of course any supplies or books they'll need."

"Don't worry about the money Faxon, were family, and besides I'll spend Harper's money, she's never says anything about what I do and if there's anything you need you better ask me or I'll get Conner to help me kick your ass. Now let's go meet these girls."

When Rachel and Faxon got up she hugged him again.

"I feel so much better knowing this shit between you and Harper will be over. Between watching her punish herself and the shitty mood she's always in I've about had enough."

"It's true Faxon," Conner said. "Harper wouldn't let us drive the Porsche, she won't drive it either, she's as much as said she bought it for you."

They went up the stairs and Faxon knocked on the door before opening. First name introductions were made, Conner stood close to the door out of the way. Linda and Faxon eventually sat on the couch together while the girls sat in the two chairs at the table and Rachel pulled up a chair and sat with them. She was given a legal pad and pen and began asking the girls questions about what grade they were in, and what text books they were using, she asked about some of the test they had taken, and what books they had read. The whole time Linda looked at Rachel and occasionally Rachel looked back at her, uncomfortable of how close she sat to Faxon.

Faxon's cell phone rang and he walked out of the apartment to answer it, he'd seen who it was from on the caller ID.

"John, I'm surprised I haven't heard from you before now. I guess you got a call from a Detective at the Philadelphia Police Department."

"Yea I did, Faxon, what I want to know is have you got something that's going to solve a lot of cases for us?"

"I do John. Linda has told me the name of the Marine commanding officer behind everything. She witnessed what the man told her husband to do, and she's said she'll testify before a Grand Jury and in court. I was going to call you later today I guess you and the DA will want to hear her story first."

"Ya Faxon, this is huge, I'll set up a meeting and call you back. When our prisoner, Ensign Ronald Beale finds out someone is going to testify maybe he'll accept a deal and confess the man's involvement. "

"What did the Detective in Philly say about the men that tried to kill Linda and her daughters," Faxon asked?

"He said you're a real bad ass," John laughed. "The two men didn't speak any English and the interpreter got them to admit they were Saudi nationals, he said they were ready to tell who sent them when the FBI came in and took them away. I suspect they know already who's behind this whole thing and he'll make the FBI's most wanted list."

"Call me when the DA wants to meet with Linda and I'll bring her in John."

"I guess I don't have to say keep her safe, and be careful."

Rachel spent about an hour with the girls and had taken two pages of notes. They were tired of being in the small apartment and Rachel couldn't blame them. Conner always ready for an adventure agreed with Rachel to go with Linda, the girls, and Faxon to buy two single beds and have them delivered to the apartment, William agreed to let them in when they came. With two small beds bought, sheets, pillows, and bed spreads, Faxon paid extra to have them delivered today. Rachel enjoyed shopping and buying new clothes for Linda and the girls and she found some things for herself. Then it was time for lunch and a cold beer for Faxon and Conner.

Rachel realized why Faxon liked the girls so much and she didn't miss Linda walking close to Faxon and the way she looked at him when she thought no one was watching. She had come to the conclusion that would be the way any mother would react to a man that loved her children. They stopped at a book store and bought everything the girls would need and Rachel gave them each a chapter to start with. Before leaving they made arrangements to start tomorrow at 9:00 am.

Faxon, Linda, and the girls went to the grocery store before going back to the apartment.

"You let them buy too much junk food Faxon," Linda said.

They whispered as the girls helped carry the groceries up to the apartment.

"It's kind of a special occasion, new place and everything, I thought maybe tomorrow I'd buy them both a laptop, or maybe a pad," he said.

"You're going to spoil them."

She leaned close to him he couldn't help enjoy their incidental contact.

"They're going to need them for their studies, and both girls like to play games, I thought I'd get Katie and you a cell phone too, besides the girls can't keep using mine."

"I hope there's nothing on your laptop that you don't want the girls to see, it's probably too late if you do. I should have asked before letting them use it without supervision," Linda said.

"I don't have anything on there that they can't see, trust me," he said as they reached the top of the stairs.

Linda stopped him before they walked in. "I do thrust you," she leaned over and kissed him. "I know she hurt you, but I want you to know that I'm here for you, as a friend, or as a lover, but forever as a friend. If what you've said is true and I hope when you said you wanted to be part of my girls lives you were telling the truth, because they both love you, and there's so much they can learn from you."

"I did mean it, and I keep my promises, I'll help with the girls and you for as long as you need me, but don't sell yourself short Linda, you're a beautiful woman with two great kids. Come on let's make dinner, I have somewhere to go, I'll make sure William and everybody watches out for you."

Harper's cell phone rang. "Harper its Lew, is that phone really registered to your Aunt? Is her name Rachel Evans?"

"I wouldn't lie to you Lew, Rachel Evans is my Aunt, she lives with me, and she was my father's younger sister I swear."

"Well I told you I didn't want to get in-between you and Faxon, but I'll tell you anyway. Your Aunt went into the city, she went to Ned Devine's, and she was there about two hours, then she went to a furniture store, and then to a women's apparel store, an expensive one too. Then to a restaurant and a bookstore then Staples, and back to Ned Devine's where they stayed about thirty minutes then they left. It looks like their almost to Littleton."

"Thanks Lew what do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything, but if you want to do me a favor then patch things up with Faxon. We've been friends for a long time and I never saw him as happy as he was with you Harper, and I've never seen him as sad as he's been since you left. Can't you just forget whatever it was that happened, he really loves you ya know?"

"I love him too Lew, I think things are going to work out, maybe because of what you told me today."

She didn't wait for Rachel and Conner to get home she got in the Cayenne and drove into the city. She had to park a block away, but instead of attracting a lot of attention she went up the metal steps in the ally up the back of the building to the second floor. Harper tried the handle and it was locked, that was the first time she could remember it ever being locked. She took out her new lock pick set and hoped all the practice she'd been doing would pay off. Working the tumblers on the dead bolt she got it open, not breaking any records she got it open none the less. Down the small hall she slipped around the corner and went up the stairs to the small apartment without being seen.

Harper knocked on the door, she couldn't hear anything inside and tried the handle it was locked.

"Who is it," a woman's voice asked.

"A friend of Faxon's, I want to speak to him."

"Step back away from the door so I can look at you through the hole," Linda said. She recognized the tall blond girl that was on Faxon's laptop ridding the horses. Linda unlocked the two dead bolts, the handle and took the chain off and opened the door. Harper had stepped back enough so Linda could come out she shut the door behind her. Linda looked at Harper, she was just slightly shorter than Faxon, six foot tall, and Linda noticed she was lean but muscular, and pretty.

"Faxon's not here he went out for a little while."

Harper looked at the girl's long wavy brown hair, big brown eyes, and full pouty lips, Harper was in great physical condition, but their bodies were nearly the same.

"Are you living here? Is Faxon still living here?"

"I don't really think that's any of your business, I'm Linda, I don't know your name but I know who you are. He doesn't talk about you much, but I know you broke his heart."

Harper couldn't say anything, she was shocked, was this someone he was trying to use to forget about her.

"I know what you're thinking and no he hasn't gotten over you, I wish he could, I'd be glad to help him with that. Do you really know what kind of man Faxon is, I think you don't because I can't imagine him doing anything disrespectful to someone he obviously loves as much as you. You really hurt him, is there anything you want me to tell him?"

"My names Harper, no, please don't tell him I came by."

She walked down the steps quickly glancing around the corner making sure no one was watching as she exited the back door locking it behind her.

It was late but Detective John Walker was still in his office, he had just hung up the phone, his wife wanted to know when he would be home so dinner would be hot when he got there. Faxon walked in and sat in the chair across from him.

"Well you might finally get me a raise if this works out. The DA is already writing up his speech. A stolen truck and trailer goods racket foiled, the murder of real estate investor, Martin Samuels solved, the murder of a well know contractor, Parker Doss solved, and the man that killed him is willing to testify for a reduced sentence. The murder of an old Boston family socialite and a famous building contractor, Clayton and Lindsey Lewis solved. Shit the DA will probably run for Mayor and I'll be the Police Chief before this is over. So has Harper forgiven you yet?"

"I haven't talked to her, I thought when this shit hits the fan and it's all over the news she'll come see me. I don't think I was wrong not torturing the information out of Race Thorpe for the guy's name."

"You did the right thing Faxon, she'll see that and come running back to you. So tomorrow morning you're bringing her in for the interview, 9:30 am, and you better keep her safe."

Harper couldn't stop thinking about what Linda had said to her. Her damn pride had let her hurt the one man that truly loved her. Finding the man that ordered her parents deaths had been everything, but she shouldn't have let Faxon suffer he had done the right thing.

She pulled up under the large carport beside her truck and went into the kitchen. Rachel was taking three baked potatoes out of the oven, covered in sea salt and wrapped in foil. She put the asparagus on a baking sheet and put them in. Conner was out by the pool grilling steaks.

"Why did you go to see Faxon today," Harper asked?

"You're getting good at this private investigator shit aren't you," Rachel said. "I saw Faxon but he asked me to come into town to meet someone else."

"Linda, is that right?"

"Shit Harper did you go to the apartment? Did you talk to Faxon?"

"He wasn't there, but I met her."

"Well did you meet the girls," Rachel asked?

"The girls, I only met Linda. Does he have more girls than her living there? Shit what's he want a harem?"

Rachel laughed. "Oh ya, Mindy, is ten, and as cute as can be, and Katie is thirteen going on sixteen and as pretty as her mother, and they both think the world of Faxon."

"What the hell's going on Rachel?"

"Faxon asked if I would tutor the girls for a little while so they don't get behind in school. So you met Linda, she's pretty isn't she? I saw the way she looked at Faxon, of course a young woman with two kids that love Faxon and him them, well that's a pretty attractive thing for a young woman even if she knows he's in love with a stubborn bitch."

Harper threw a glass against the far wall and shattered it. "I'm going to take a shower," she said calmly.

"I'll leave that for you to clean up, and dinner will be done soon. Take a hot shower, and think about Faxon washing your back for you. Maybe that'll release some of that pent up tension you got."

Harper turned around and gave her the finger as she walked out of the room.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

The next morning Rachel showed up at Ned Devine's at 9:00 am and Faxon let her in. His hand was on his lower back. It was his second night sleeping on the floor and it was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable.

"What's wrong," Rachel asked?

"I'm sleeping on the floor in the storeroom, and my backs killing me."

"Have Linda rub it for you."

"Stop, please, it's hard enough with her constantly giving me little hugs and kissing my cheek, I'll give Harper till tomorrow, if she doesn't forgive me by then we're going to have a problem."

"What's tomorrow?"

"Today we do the interview with the DA by tomorrow it'll be all over the news, pictures, descriptions he'll be on the ten most wanted list."

"Why don't you go get a room somewhere?"

"I want to be close just in case, so a few more days sleeping on the floor won't kill me."

They went up the stairs to the apartment then Rachel stopped.

"Faxon what were your sleeping arrangements when you and Harper were in that small apartment before that wall was knocked down?"

"Well we both slept in the bedroom, in the bed."

"Wait a minute, you both slept in the same bed together for what? Three months? And nothing happened?"

"That's right. For the exception of maybe twice when she kissed me we never touched each other. Until we went to Nashville, and we got a room together, and then well something happened, and I'm glad I'm in good shape, she's pretty aggressive."

"Ok, too much information."

Rachel knocked on the door. Linda opened and both girls ran to hug Faxon.

"Did you both have breakfast?"

"Yea we had toaster pastry," Mindy said.

"You two to the table and I want to review what you read last night and then we'll start on some math and algebra," Rachel ordered. "You two go, we'll be fine, and take my car it's out front."

"Thanks Rachel," Faxon said.

They drove the Audie to the police station. Detective Walker had arranged for Faxon to enter into the underground parking garage and a dozen armed officers were waiting. They rode the elevator up to the third floor with John to the interview room.

"Faxon how is it you're associated with such good looking women," John asked?

"Thank you detective but you're a much more handsome man," Linda teased.

"He's married," Faxon said.

"All the good ones are," she said.

"Wow, good looking and funny too, you're a lucky man Faxon Bennett. Here we are right this way."

They walked down the hall to interview room number 2. Inside there was a stenographer a microphone in the center of the table and a video camera in the corner of the room. Two men in expensive suits stood on the opposite side.

"Linda Walker is no relation to me gentleman," John announced. "This is District Attorney General Adam Shift, and assistant District Attorney Mark Simmons," the detective said. "And gentlemen this is Faxon Bennett, Private Detective, without his tireless investigation into this murder and corruption none of this would be possible."

Just then the door opened and three more people entered the room.

"Good morning, my name is Agent Edward Bliss from the Boston office of the FBI."

"And I'm Evelyn Hope, with the NSA."

"And I'm Walter Riggs, from Washington I'm with the State Department."

Introductions were made again but Faxon had the feeling they all knew who he was, the agencies had to have done a background check. In each of their briefcases they produced their own recording devices, all much higher quality than the local authorities.

District Attorney General Adam Shift remained standing after everyone had a seat.

"Gentlemen as agreed I'll be running the interview of the witnesses, please refrain from interrupting, after I'm finished if there's any unanswered questions we'll precede one at a time to maintain a clear record of the interview. This is not a court of law, only an interview I want allow the witnesses to be harassed in any way, if the question has been asked and answered we move on, understood?"

Everyone shook their heads in agreement and Adam Shift took his seat directly across the table from Linda and Faxon. Linda was nervous Faxon looked at her and smiled.

"Ms. Walker we're going to start with you and there's no reason to be nervous, we just want you to tell your story plainly, and honestly. Tell us about your husband."

"His name was Ensign Jessie Walker, he was a marine and served in Afghanistan in E-company, while he was there he became involved in several illegal operations, mainly the importing of heroin bought from local Afghani's and smuggled into the States. They did it by packing it into the body bags of deceased solders coming home. It was a network of E-company marines over there and here. He also became a user and quickly became addicted as did other men in his company."

"And did your husband ever say who ran the smuggling operation," Adam Shift asked?

"It was his commanding officer Lieutenant Commander, Benjamin Brantley."

"Go on with your story Ms. Walker," the DA said.

"When Jessie came back he had no control over his addiction, my girls and I were living on base, but when he came back and didn't reenlist we had to move out of the naval base housing. Jessie got jobs but everything he earned went to drugs and alcohol. We moved into government housing and with the small amount of assistance we got we were starving to death. Public housing was dangerous, drug dealers, gang members and prostitution, I didn't know what I was going to do I cried myself to sleep every night. Then one day Jessie shows up, he looked worse than ever, he came with his commanding officer, he said it was a job and it would set things right with me and the girls. I remember meeting him and I remember going to the bedroom with the girls, but I left the door open and heard the whole thing."

"The man I was introduced to as Benjamin Brantley asked Jessie to kill a man and his wife, Clayton and Lindsey Lewis. He wanted it to look like an accident, and he wanted Jessie to run a car head on into them at high speed. Jessie was pretty far gone, he knew he couldn't kick the habit and the deal was made. Brantley would care for us, move us into a nice house and make sure we had whatever we needed. And he did just that until last week when two men tried to kill us."

"Just so you'll both know," Adam Shift said. "The two Saudi Nationals have given statements that Benjamin Brantley sent them to kill Ms. Linda Walker and her two daughters. Ensign Ronald Beale has agreed to testify against his former commanding officer that he had been ordered to kill Martin Samuels and used a NSA permit to ship illegal guns to Saudi Arabia. But we would still like to hear anything you know Mr. Bennett."

"I know the Lieutenant Commander used ex-Marines from the E-Company to carry out his operations, a multi-million dollar theft ring that shipped goods overseas. Ex-Marine specialist to murder owners of companies, he used money from his drug imports and stolen goods to buy these companies and properties laundering the money. I know he recruited ex-Marines from the E-Company to work as elite military instructors in eastern countries. I suspect those instructors made money training radicals that have possibly killed American soldiers, and I know Benjamin Brantley needs to pay for the carnage left in his wake."

"Does anyone have any questions," asked the DA Adam Shift?

"No questions but I need to ask the both of you to not disclose any of the information that has been discussed here today," State Department official Walter Riggs said. "We're working with the Saudi government and other Eastern countries to ascertain the location of the training facilities and place the ex-Marines from E-company in custody."

"The FBI is working with the NSA to investigate and arrest anyone involved in the importing of narcotics and distribution or theft of trucks and the shipping of stolen goods," FBI agent Edward Bliss said.

"We're also working with the ATF to resend any gun shipping permits for the time being from the United States to any Middle Eastern country," NSA official Evelyn Hope said.

"Also Benjamin Brantley is on the FBI's most wanted list," Agent Edward Bliss said.

"Gentlemen I suggest we have a joint news conference tomorrow," Adam Shift added. "I'll alert the news agencies and we can show a joint show of support."

There was a unanimous agreement with all agencies and John escorted Linda and Faxon back to the parking garage.

They drove back to the small apartment both girls were sitting at the table when they walked in. Rachel sat on the couch while the girls worked with books opened in front of them both.

"You two keep working," Linda said.

Faxon went to the bathroom.

"Well, it's done, we both testified, their holding a news conference tomorrow on the court house steps then it'll be all over the news."

"Then maybe things will get back to normal," Rachel said.

"You look like her," Linda spoke up. "Harper, I met her, she came here, I wasn't quite sure why at the time, now I think about how much the two of you looked alike. There's something else, something Faxon's not telling me."

"I'm Harper's Aunt, her father's younger sister, his name was Clayton Lewis."

It took a moment for Linda to think about the name. "Oh my God," Linda's face went white it was Harper's mother and father Jessie had murdered.

"It had nothing to do with you dear I love your girls and who wouldn't. You're doing the right thing and because Faxon has agreed to help you and the girls, I consider you part of the family."

When Faxon came out of the bathroom the two of them were hugging. He was perceptive enough to know they had a special moment, but assumed it was about her testimony. Rachel gave the girls the rest of their lessons and said goodbye.

"I need to go see someone," Faxon said. "Benjamin Brantley is gonna be desperate after tomorrow, I need to get you and the girls into more suitable accommodations."

Linda kissed his cheek. "Thank you, for everything, I hope I haven't made your life more complicated."

"My life was pretty complicated before I met you."

Faxon went over to the table and looked at what both girls were doing. He approved and kissed both of their foreheads promising to take them out for dinner when he got back if all their work was done.

He drove the old Jeep out of the city and finally approached the large gates of Landau Comaneci's home. He reached out and pressed the page button on the security pad. No one answered but the gates opened and Faxon drove down the winding blacktop tree covered driveway. The gates closed behind him and he thought about the last time he'd been here with Harper. They had come at his invitation for dinner and to pay him for the return of his and his friend's investments. He remembered how beautiful she was in her black dress. He suddenly had a vision of her sitting on the side of the bed naked in the hotel room in Nashville and nearly drove of the road.

When he got to the front of the huge mansion Landau was waiting outside.

"My dear friend, what a pleasant surprise," Landau spoke in his usual Rumanian English accent, Faxon always thought he sounded like Bella Lugosi as Dracula. "You picked a perfect time to visit, all of my children and their mothers have gone to Europe and I've been yearning for entertaining conversation, please come in."

He led Faxon into a den at the back of the house it was built on a slight rise and the large windows from floor to ceiling looked out over the back lawn that was acres large, workmen were tending to a large rose garden.

Landau poured them both a glass of red wine from a crystal decanter.

"You would not have come unless there's something important on your mind, but I want you to know you are always welcome here in my home. I consider you a true friend and I've been trying to duplicate your sense of honor and honesty. I must admit I find it quite trying sometimes but I believe I'm becoming a better man for it. Your example has made me a better man, that's a lot to say for someone like me that's so used to getting his way."

"I have a favor to ask it's nothing that's beyond you, but what I ask may test your new sensibilities," Faxon said.

"There's not much beyond me Faxon, testing my honor it must be a certain challenge then, but it must be important to you or you would not ask it of me. Consider it done my friend."

"The man that was behind the deaths of Harper's parents, he hired an ex-marine to kill them in a head on car crash also killing himself. The condition was that this man would care for his young wife and two daughters. The woman has come forward and has testified against the man and her life is in danger until this man is brought to justice. I would ask you to care for them until his capture and I would hope you would honor her as I did your young wife in the Hamptons."

"You know I love children so that is not a problem for me Faxon. This young mother she is pretty, yes?"

"Very pretty and vulnerable," he said.

"A beautiful woman, my greatest weakness, as you well know, and this will certainly test my honor to give you my word that there will be no seduction, not even a kiss of the lips. I will accept the challenge my friend she is welcome here and I will keep them safe."

"This means a lot to me because I've sworn I'd take care of them and I've already grown attached to the girls. This will also mean a lot to Harper, although she doesn't know it yet. I'll bring them tomorrow and have their tutor meet them here if that suits you?"

"It does, and I know just the right men to hire for security," Landau said. "I think six should do it, and I presume spoiling the girls is not a problem?"

"I'll leave that up to their mother. They'll be much different than you're used too they've suffered terrible poverty and abuse."

The agreement was made and Faxon rode back to the apartment and took the girls and Linda out to dinner.

* * *

The next morning Rachel got up and got dressed, Conner was going into the city with her today. They knew the news conference was going to be this morning and a tentative time was set for 11:00 am. Harper had already gotten up and gone for her run, today she would stop at the stables before coming home. Rachel and Conner turned every television on World Cable News when they left. There was one in the kitchen, the living room, the office, and in every bedroom. Not long after they left the reporters were announcing that there was to be a joint news conference outside of the Boston courthouse at 11:00 am.

When Harper came into the kitchen she went straight to the fridge, she had already prepared a protein drink and began to drink it down not enjoying the taste that much. Her shirt was wet from sweat, she had helped muck out stalls with Jose' after her run. It was hard to ignore the television on with the volume turned up as high as it was. Rachel never left a television on or a light, she always said it was her father's obsession and it had stuck.

Walking into the office and looking up at the flat screen on the wall she noticed it was on the same channel with the volume turned up. She heard the reporter say they were all in anticipation of a joint news conference. She turned it off and walked into the living room where the sixty two inch flat screen was on the same channel. This was no coincidence Rachel wanted to make sure she saw that news conference and she almost got sick to her stomach.

It looked like there were two hundred people standing out front of the Boston courthouse. At least a dozen microphones were clustered together at the top of the steps, camera men in a semi-circle around them. On time right at 11:00 am a man walked to the microphones, he waited until at least a dozen men and a couple women spread out behind him. They all wore expensive suits, Harper noticed one man in the back she knew. It was Detective John Walker.

The man at the microphones turned around to make sure everyone was settled before he started.

"For those of you that don't know I'm Adam Shift, District Attorney, I'm here today with Agent Edward Burns FBI, Evelyn Hope, NSA, and Walter Riggs from the State Department. We're here today to announce we've identified the man behind the murders of high profile Boston businessmen that include Clayton Lewis and his wife Lindsey, Martin Samuels, and Parker Doss. All of them were from old Boston families, and philanthropist that supported the arts, and the poor and unfortunate in the Boston area and they will be missed."

Harper fell back in the big leather chair in the living room and tears ran down her cheeks.

"This man was behind the largest heroin drug ring on the East coast, a theft ring, and the deaths of truck drivers and the theft of their trailers with millions of dollars' worth of goods. This man is wanted for recruiting ex-marines to train radical Islamic solders that have been implicated in the deaths of US soldiers and citizens overseas. This man is the most wanted man in America and is believed to be in the Boston area and considered armed and dangerous."

On an easel off to the side they had a large poster of several different pictures of the man.

"We're asking for any information that would lead to the whereabouts and arrest of former Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Brantley. We couldn't have made this case without the testimony of witnesses that were encouraged to come forward and testify against Brantley. I want to thank Detective John Walker. Special thanks go to Private Investigator Faxon Bennett, without his tireless investigation, personal sacrifice, and expertise this man may have never been discovered and these crimes gone unsolved. The city of Boston and the families of the victims owe Faxon Bennett great thanks. We won't be accepting any questions at this time, thank you."

Harper was shaking, she couldn't stop crying. Faxon hadn't stopped trying to find the wife of Jessie Walker and her two daughters. Linda Walker that's who the pretty young woman was that was at the apartment. Aunt Rachel was tutoring the girls it was all a plan to keep her safe until she could testify against the man that had ordered her parents killed.

She went and took a shower, she had to find Faxon, she had to tell him how sorry she was, how stupid she'd been. The pain of not getting the information from Ensign Ronald Beale had not been the end her hurt had clouded her reason. Faxon had continued to work to find the answer even though he wasn't getting paid. He was doing it for her.

* * *

Rachel and Conner had arrived at the address given to them by Faxon. It was in a rural area outside of Boston, Instead of large horse farms this was an area of large estates, and this one must have been a hundred acres, the home couldn't be seen from the road. Conner parked the car outside the gates.

"Are you sure this is the address Faxon gave you Rachel? I entered it into the GPS just the way you gave it to me."

"Well he did say his friend had a lot of money, and said he was some Romanian Count or Duke or something. Faxon and Harper did some work for the guy and he said they'd become good friends. Maybe I should call him."

Just then the old Jeep pulled up beside them, Faxon had the top and doors off, and the girls were in the back laughing having a great time in the old army Jeep. Linda sat in the front bucket seat holding on to the side of the fold down windshield and the back of Faxon's seat. She wore a ball cap and her hair was braided like Harper wore hers to keep the wind from blowing it all around while they were driving. Linda and the girls wore jeans and she wore a flannel long sleeved shirt tied in a knot in front.

"Hi Rachel," said both the girls from the back, they leaned over the side laughing. "Do you want to ride in the back with us? It's a lot of fun."

"I'll pass, thank you. I wasn't sure I found the right place."

"You did, now I'm warning everyone Landau is a little extreme, so follow us in and don't be surprised by the size of the mason."

Faxon had brought some of their things promising to bring the rest tomorrow. He had talked to Linda for thirty minutes about Landau explaining he was a womanizer and that he'd been married three times to European women and had three sets of triplets so she was somewhat prepared as much as anyone could be when meeting Landau.

He pushed the intercom button and the large gates opened. Faxon drove down the winding blacktop tree covered driveway with Rachel and Conner following. When they drove up to the front of the house around the circle drive Landau waited out front. There were six men wearing black standing out front with automatic rifles and bullet proof vest standing over to the side. Behind him were two men servants and four women servants, the men were older with gray hair and wore tailed suits. The women were younger and wore thigh length black servant skirts with black bib aprons and white shirts all lined up behind the two men servants.

The girls looked up at the three story huge gray stone granite block manor and huge pained windows with their mouths open. Rachel and Conner got out of the Audi doing the same. Faxon got out and walked around the Jeep, Linda wouldn't get out Faxon stood beside her.

"I can't believe you let me come here dressed like this Faxon, I could just die from embarrassment the way I'm dressed."

"Don't be ridicules, Landau will love it crap he's probably already bought you a wardrobe, besides I don't want you looking too good for him."

Landau was introducing himself to Rachel and Conner.

"You must be the tutor, please call me Landau, and you must be her consort. I'll introduce you to the staff once we're all together."

The two girls walked up beside Rachel and Landau knelt and shook Mindy's hand first then Katie's. "What beautiful girls, we will have lots of fun, I'm Landau, and I have nine daughters even three that are about your age Katie, but their all away with their mothers. We have a home theater, and a bowling alley, horses to ride, a swimming pool, and lots of other things for you to do here, now let's go meet your beautiful mother."

The girls ran to their mother's side and began telling her what Landau had said. Linda stood close to Faxon a little frightened, a little in awe of the mason and Landau's wealth. Landau approached slowly and bowed reaching out and taking Linda's left hand and kissing the back of it.

"It's my honor to meet you Ms. Walker. My only desire is to see that you and your lovely daughters are safe and properly cared for. Please accept my hospitality and all I have to offer."

Landau introduced the two men that were his personal servants, organizers, planners, and assistants, they bowed. Then he introduced the four women that tended to the manor, he explained they would take care of all their needs from washing their clothes, to dressing, bathing, linens, and any request they might have, the young ladies smiled and curtsied. Landau explained there was also a kitchen staff that they would meet later.

"Now come we'll have a quick tour of the manor and then the girls can start their lessons," Landau said.

Inside they toured the ground floor and all the rooms, just inside was a large open foyer the ceiling went up past the second floor and a huge crystal chandelier hung from the thirty five foot ceiling. There was a huge eight foot wide curving staircase that went up one side of the wall to the second floor. The rugs were silk and colorfully embroidered from Europe, they covered dark hardwood floors. There were several accent tables along the walls with expensive vases and fresh cut rosses, Landau chose two large red ones and handed them to Rachel and Linda, they smelled them and said thank you. There was a large banquet hall and a small banquet hall both with fireplaces tall enough to stand in, there were three bathrooms downstairs, and a not so formal living room that looked out over the rose gardens and the back lawn of the estate. Landau showed them the kitchen and introduced the cook staff, their living quarters were near but they didn't view them.

Landau took Rachel, Conner, Faxon, Linda, and the girls up to the second floor in the large elevator instead of the stairs to show the girls how to operate it.

"This is the west wing, and your quarters," Landau said. There was a ten foot wide hall with the same colorful silk embroidered rugs, accent tables with flowers and wall sconces. "There are six large bedrooms with full bathes that are fully supplied, each room has electronics, videos, laptops, and flat screens on the walls, intercom systems, and I took the liberty of supplying new cell phones. There's a fully stocked kitchen, and anything you need please just ask, it's my desire that you want for nothing."

There were two more wings that branched out from the center of the manor on the second floor, one was Landau's, and three wings on the third floor where his ex-wives stayed when visiting with his daughters.

"You live here all by yourself," Mindy asked?

"Sometimes little one, but I will enjoy your company, and do my best to spoil you so that you'll never want to leave," Landau told her.

He had one of the bedrooms in their wing converted into a classroom complete with white board, fancy desks and leather chairs, there were bookshelves filled with great works of literature, and children's books.

"I had the theater stocked with the latest movie releases for children and adult appropriate, Katie is more mature than her years," Landau said.

They all spent the day at the manor the staff served lunch and Rachel taught the girls while Conner, Linda, and Faxon went with Landau to the stables and around the estate, the guards were always around but never too close to intrude. Faxon said goodbye to the girls and they ran off upstairs to the theater room with Landau. He stood outside the front doors and said goodbye to Linda.

"Call me if there's any problem, if you believe Landau is too forward we'll find somewhere else. I'll call later and make sure you're alright, and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Where are you going?"

"To try and run down a led on Brantley, the sooner he's caught the sooner you and the girls will be safe."

"Please be careful." Linda kissed his cheek. "Don't forget to call me later or I'll worry."

* * *

Harper went straight to Ned Devin's. She parked in front on the street and went in the front not wanting to take the time to pick the lock on the back door. She took the steps two at a time up to the bar, William saw her right away.

"Harper, I saw the news conference, does this mean you and Faxon are back together?"

"I hope so William. Is Faxon in his apartment, I can't get him on his cell phone."

"You can check but he left this morning with Linda and the girls, they moved out, that place was really too small, he must have found somewhere bigger but safe."

Harper went and checked the apartment just the same. She picked the lock, Linda and the girl's things were mostly gone. Harper looked at a drawing that the smaller girl had made, and she left it on the front of the refrigerator. It was a little girl holding a man's hand and written below it was "I love you." She went back to the SUV and drove to the police station.

When she walked in the desk Sargent hesitated, "haven't seen you in a while, go ahead he's in his office."

The door was open and John was looking at dozens of reports on his desk.

"Well I was wondering how long it would be before I saw you again, but I thought it would be with Faxon."

"That's why I'm here I was wondering where he is?"

"I haven't seen him, I thought for sure he'd come by today, I'm absolutely swamped with reports of sightings of Brantley, the FBI, and every available man are running down leads."

"I went by the apartment, he's not there and he's moved Linda and the girls, I don't suppose he told you where he was moving them?"

"Hell I didn't know where they were, he's kept it a secret. He showed up here the day before yesterday for the interview with the DA and we brought them into the underground garage, he was driving a black Audie. I could probably get the tag number from the video."

"Don't worry about it I know whose car it was," Harper said.

She went back to the SUV and called Rachel's cell phone. "Aunt Rachel, do you know where Faxon is?"

"So you saw the news conference."

"Yes, and I can't find him. I went to the apartment and William told me he moved Linda and the girls, and he hasn't been to the police station, they've got lots of leads. You know don't you?"

"He was here with us Harper but he just left."

"So you're with them? Where are you?"

"We're at Faxon's friend's house, if a house is what you'd call it, we're at Landau's. Faxon talked to Linda before he left let me ask her." Rachel spoke to Linda nearby.

"Linda said to say hello. She said all he told her was he was running down a lead of where that Brantley guy might be. He did say he'd call later and come by tomorrow. He's nervous about leaving Linda here with Landau, shit I'm thinking about getting rid of Conner."

"That's funny, Landau likes young girls, and you're an old lady, better keep Conner. If I don't find Faxon would you ask Linda to tell him I'm looking for him if he calls?"

* * *

Faxon drove the old army Jeep down to the inner harbor dock area and parked outside the same bar that they'd been to before. He knew his chances were slim but he had a picture of Benjamin Brantley on his phone and he walked in and ordered a beer at the bar. There were no seats so he stood near two guys that looked like longshoremen.

"I was looking for a retired marine, don't suppose you'd look at a picture and tell me if you'd seen him in here?"

"Sure buddy, you ex-military," one of the guys asked? He had a long scar down one side of his face. Faxon could tell both men worked somewhere along the docks. He showed them the image on his phone.

"Yea I was special forces," Faxon said. "I've been looking for this guy for a while, you guy's work on the docks?"

"Longshoremen, no I never seen him, not in here or on the docks," the other man agreed with his friend. "What makes you think he'd be down here?"

"Well besides a lot of military guys that hang out here, this piece of shit is associated with some Saudi nationals, I know there's a Saudi registered freighter docked down here."

"Yea we all know it, I'd like to see the son of a bitch sink, if you need some help we're in," the one with the scar said. "They won't use longshoremen to tie off or load cargo they use all Arab labor."

"I'll tell you buddy, that freighter's fixing to leave. They put in for fuel and their filling up right now. There holds are full I can tell by how low it's sitting in the water, and their deck is crowded with shipping containers."

"Are we talking about the same freighter, The Desert Sun?"

"Yea that's the one, all Arab crew, except for some security guys I've seen, now those guys look like military. Haircuts, boots, and guns," the other guy said.

"Thanks guys you just confirmed where he is," Faxon said.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Harper stayed at Ned Devine's, she sat in Faxon's regular seat at the end of the bar. None of the waitresses would speak to her, they didn't give her dirty looks but just ignored her when they came to punch in a check or pick up drinks.

"I guess their pissed at me," Harper said to William.

"They'll get over it when they see you two together again. They're angry, because they saw how much he loved you."

"Shit where is he William? I swear if he gets himself shot going after this guy I'll kill him. I'm not leaving till he comes home."

* * *

Faxon went back to the Jeep. He drove down the dock until he was about a hundred yards away from the Desert Sun. He could see men moving around on deck with machineguns his thirty eight was no match for those automatic weapons. It looked like some other men were preparing to lift the gang plank and that meant they were beginning to leave. If he didn't stop them they'd be out to sea and be in international waters and there'd be no getting Brantley if he was on board, and Faxon was convinced he was, he had that gut feeling.

He used his cell phone and called Linda. "Hey, I just wanted to check in is everything alright, has Landau tried to get you to sleep with him yet?"

"He's not like that at all Faxon, we had dinner together and the girls had ice cream, then we watched a new release kid's movie. I think he enjoyed it as much as they did. He's been a perfect gentleman. Are you at the apartment," Linda asked?

"No, I think I found our guy, I'm just not sure what to do yet?"

"Don't take any chances Faxon, call Detective Walker. Listen Harper called Rachel, she's been looking for you, I think she's waiting for you at the apartment. Maybe you should call her."

"Thanks, I'll talk to you tomorrow Linda."

Faxon called Harper.

"Where are you," she desperately asked?

"Damn Harper we haven't talked to each other in weeks and the first thing you say is where are you?"

"I'm sorry, Faxon, please come to the apartment, I love you."

"That's better, I'm afraid I can't though, I think I found our guy but he's well protected, problem is if I don't go after him now he'll be gone and we'll never get him."

"Damn-it Faxon, wait until I can get some help, where are you?"

"I'm down in the inner harbor. He's on the Saudi registered freighter the Desert Sun and their getting ready to leave. If I don't stop him now Harper they'll be in international waters and we'll never get him. I'm gonna have to try and slip aboard and find him or stop them from leaving."

"At least wait till I get there, I'll call John and he'll have the FBI and the swat team there," Harper said.

"By the time you get here it'll be too late, I think I can get aboard now, if I can I'll try to damage something so they can't leave. Call John and when you get here stay on the dock till they arrive, just make sure the good guys know I'm on board. Harper I think you know by now I never stopped looking for the man that had your parents killed, and I'm not sorry for what I did concerning Ensign Beale. He's agreed to testify now, and I never stopped loving you either."

Faxon hung up. Harper ran to the SUV and spun the tires as she left Ned Devine's. She dialed Detective John Walker's cell phone as she weaved through traffic.

"Hello, did you find Faxon?" John saw the caller ID and knew it was Harper.

"He's down at the inner Harbor."

She was breathing hard and John could hear the excitement in her voice.

"What's going on, I get the feeling I'm not going to get any sleep tonight."

"Brantley's on the Desert Sun, he's got some ex-military with him, they have automatic weapons, the freighter is fixing to go to sea, Faxon called me their pulling up the gang plank and he's trying to get on board and stop them from leaving."

"The damn fool is going to get himself killed. Let me guess you're on your way there. I order you to stay on the dock and wait for us to show up, or so help me I'll arrest you for interfering in a police operation."

"Get the fuck out of the way," Harper screemed at another driver out the window.

John could hear her wheels skid and then spin taking off again. "Being arrested don't mean shit to me right now John, just remember when you get there we'll be on board." Harper hung up and threw the phone down on the floor.

Faxon stuffed a bundle of large zip ties in his back pocket. He put his thirty eight in his belt and filled his pockets with extra shells from the box in his ready bag. He had to smile, a thirty eight against men with machine guns. What the hell all he really had to do was stop them from leaving, that meant getting to the engine room.

The ramp was already raised, the freighter sat low in the water which made the distance to the deck not that far. Mooring ropes were still attached and Faxon quickly decided that was the only way on board. From the bow to the tower at the stern the deck was stacked with shipping containers three high, there were containers in the hold under the deck too. All around the outside hanging down the side of the ship were large rubber bumper guards. The tower was three stories high and at the top was the wheel house, captains quarters below that, the kitchen was on the deck level. Below the deck under the tower were crews quarters, and the engine room was a little forward of the tower about a third of the way from the stern.

Faxon climbed the large rope hand over hand across and up the side until he could reach up and grab the short rail and pull himself aboard. He rolled over against a shipping container, and there was only about four feet between the container and the rail. They tried to get as many as possible on the deck. He lay there listening and finally got up and walked to the front of the wheelhouse tower where he saw a door. Faxon opened the door and stepped in quickly shutting it behind him. He slowly went down the expanded metal staircase, one landing after another. He stopped and ducked behind a large air tank when he saw someone below him about ten feet from the bottom of the stairs. A diesel engine was running and Faxon determined it was the generator engine supplying electricity to the ship. The man was working at the side of a huge diesel engine, and it looked like he was changing a fuel filter mounted on the side. Another man walked up and he could hear him yell, telling the man to go and check the fuel tank valve and to make sure it's in the on position so they could purge the line before connecting it after he put the new filter in.

Faxon crept down the steps and walked right up behind the man and hit him over the back of the head, he quickly used zip ties on his ankles and wrist behind his back. He looked through the tool box and found a roll of duct tape and wrapped it around his head and mouth, then stepped back behind the tool box. The assistant engineer came back and when he bent to check on the first man Faxon hit him too and tied him up the same way. With his knife he started cutting the fuel lines and the bilge began to fill with diesel fuel, he also cut the hydraulic lines and then he went back up the steps.

* * *

Harper pulled up behind the old army Jeep and got out. Standing with the door open she stuffed three clips in her front left jean pocket, each clip held seven rounds. She filled her right pocket with extra rounds from the box, then tied her hair back and pulled her ball cap down low then walked down the dock. Harper couldn't see anyone from where she was and she didn't hear anyone either. Faxon would have gone to the engine room and she assumed that was in the bottom of the ship, but getting over there was her first problem, hopefully without being seen.

The large mooring ropes securing the freighter to the dock was the only way across, Harper stood looking down at the three inch in diameter rope, it hug loose sagging then up to the hole where it tied to the cleat. She couldn't just stand there and be seen so Harper reached out and swung under the rope then wrapped her legs around and began pulling herself up, her legs gripping then pushing as she pulled. It was a good thing she was in such good shape. She made it to the top and peeked over the side, when she didn't see anyone she pulled herself up and onto the deck.

The shipping containers were chalked up on the outside corners with strips of steel so that the ones on the outside would lean in. Harper kicked a loose piece about a foot long, an inch wide and about a quarter of an inch thick. She picked it up and slapped it against her palm. It was good for throwing, or hitting someone with. She walked down the side of the ship toward the wheelhouse where she hopped to find a door.

When she turned the corner she came face to face with a man holding an automatic weapon across his chest. Harper kneed him in the groin and hit him in the side of the head with the flat steel bar and he went down face first beside her. She took the machinegun and the extra clips putting them into the top of her jeans in the back. She also took his 45 cal. SOCOM pistol and the extra clips then put her small 9mm into the top of her jeans in front.

Faxon got up to the floor just before the deck, he looked down a hall there were doorways on either side and at the far end an opening that went right and left. He was standing at the opposite end when he heard a man yelling at someone.

"Go tell that damn Captain I want to be underway in the next fifteen minutes."

Just then one of the ex-military men stepped out into the hall with ex-lieutenant Commander Benjamin Brantley, he must have recognized Faxon.

"Don't just stand there looking stupid, kill him," Brantley yelled then he turned and ran the other way.

The man shot a long burst from the gun, Faxon ducked into the nearest open door that happen to be a supply room, bullets ricocheted off the wall where he had been standing. The solder began advancing toward the doorway where Faxon was and shot another burst from the machinegun. Faxon held his thirty eight and stood beside the door jamb, he knew he was over powered and when the man got to the door that would be it.

The door from the deck swung in and Harper stepped through, she shot down through the expanded metal staircase into the hall below and the man that was advancing on Faxon.

"Faxon, you down there," Harper yelled?

"Yea," he stepped out of the room and looked up through the metal staircase at Harper standing on the landing above him. She dropped the empty clip and pulled one out from behind her back and pushed it in.

"I'm really glad you never listen to anything I say." Faxon was taking the arms off the dead body when two men came around the corner at the far end of the hall. Faxon emptied a clip before they could fire and both men went down.

"Brantley just ran up, he's probably trying to get to the wheelhouse, I think there was only six of these guys, so there could be three more," Faxon said.

"Two more, I took care of one on deck, I'm going after Brantley, try not to get your-self killed, ok," Harper said as she went back out the door.

Faxon went down the hall the way Brantley had gone hopping to catch him before she did. When he took a right at the end of the hall he saw a set of stairs going up inside the tower. He looked into a doorway on the right and saw the kitchen and a small dining room but no one inside. Up the steps to the next level was the captain's quarters as he turned to go up again two men fired from above at the same time. Faxon was able to step back far enough but the rounds ricocheted off the metal all around him. He held his gun up and emptied a clip where they were standing, they weren't so lucky and one of the men fell down the steps.

Harper ran around the side of the wheelhouse and saw Brantley going up the outside steps. She heard footsteps just in time, when she turned around there were four Saudi men coming at her with knives, she emptied a clip and two went down, the other two were too close to put another clip in and she dropped the machine gun and pulled the 45 out and shot one of the two just before the last man ran into her and they both went down knocking the gun out of her hand. The man had lost his knife but he was much bigger than she was and he rolled on top of her with his hands around her throat. Harper got her hand behind her back and pulled out her Walther PPK, she put it to the side of his head and shot, her face was splattered with blood. She rolled him off, got up, and went up the steps following Brantley.

Faxon moved back against the wall avoiding another burst of fire from the last man at the top of the steps. When he stopped Faxon quickly jumped around the corner, the man above was trying to put another clip in, but not fast enough, Faxon emptied another clip up at him riddling the man with bullets. Faxon went up the steps he had to move the body to be able to get the door open. It was locked, he used the 45 cal. And shot the door handle, when he came into the wheelhouse the Captain was trying to get the engines started, the lines had been cast off and the freighter was drifting away from the wharf. Faxon looked across the room and saw Brantley through the window trying to get the door open. The Captain had locked everyone out. When Brantley saw Faxon he ran up the steps further, the only place to go was the roof of the wheelhouse, and then Faxon saw Harper run by the door after him.

When she stepped up onto the roof Brantley shot twice, both missed, the third time the gun clicked, he was out, and he dropped the gun. Harper still held her nine mm but she reached around and put it in the back of her jeans.

"You know who I am," Harper asked? Brantley backed away.

"That stupid fucking Richard Mathis, I told him just to shoot you in the fucking head and we'd get rid of your body. I trusted he was half way competent, I mean he got you to marry him easy enough so when he told me he would kill you I trusted him. Well when he didn't, I hired my shooter to take care of it, what fucking luck, he kills the damn horse. Then when Mathis gets the balls to do it he concocts this plan for it to look like a home invasion and you kill him, I laughed about that for a week. Then that fucking Faxon Bennett gets involved."

Harper kept slowly moving toward him.

"Well come on bitch, you'll find I'm not that easy to kill, we'll see who walks away from this."

Faxon ran across the room but he couldn't get the door open, it was double keyed. He chased the Captain around he couldn't speak English but when Faxon pointed the gun at him he suddenly knew what he wanted. He threw the key across the room and when Faxon went to get it the Captain pulled a long curved knife and came at him. Faxon shot him twice in the chest, and then he went to the door.

Harper grabbed Brantley's wrist when he tried to punch her, she pulled and kicked him in the chest at the same time, then turned into him and punched him in the throat, and he gasped for air. His right hand grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her head back, she pushed back against him as hard as she could not knowing how close they were to the back edge of the roof.

Faxon opened the door and ran up the steps just as Harper and Brantley were going over the side. He saw the look of losing control in her eyes, her arms out to the side, she was terrified Brantley behind her, just for a moment they seem to float in the air and then they were gone. Faxon made it to the edge just in time to see them both hit the water over a hundred feet below, Faxon screemed her name.

He ran down the steps to the deck and around the back of the wheelhouse, he pulled out his knife and cut two of the large rubber bumpers and they fell into the water near where they went in. Faxon kept looking and a body floated to the surface face down, it was a man's. Soon after Harper's head broke the surface, she was alive. Almost on cue two Coast Guard boats pulled up alongside the drifting Desert Sun, they were both loaded with armed swat members and FBI wearing vest. Men boarded the freighter as Faxon watched Harper being pulled on board the other Coast Guard boat, and then the body of Brantley was pulled on board.

They moved over to the dock, a tugboat pushed the Desert Sun back over and mooring lines secured it to the dock once again. Agents and swat team members helped drop the gang plank and the Saudi cook and his assistant were handcuffed and escorted off the freighter. There were the two Saudi men in the engine room and two more crew members arrested. There was only one ex-marine taken into custody, the one Harper had hit with the steel bar and knocked out. Detective John Walker was with Faxon as soon as he walked down the gangplank to the dock.

There were two ambulances, and there were two coroner's vans. Faxon saw them bringing body bags off the ship, one was laid out before the others, it was the body of Benjamin Brantley, he had hit his head on the rail as he fell. Harper was much luckier she had been able to turn herself and gone into the water feet first, arms to her side, she had gone in clean but had hurt her right leg. An officer walked over and said something to John then walked away.

"Faxon, come on, Harper is refusing to go to the hospital until she sees you," John said.

They had Harper in the back of one of the ambulances she was laying on a gurney with a blanket over her wet clothes. Her hair was wet but still tied back behind her head. An EMT was sitting beside her in the ambulance, he had an IV in her arm, when he saw John and Faxon walk up he got out to let him get in beside her.

"That's one stubborn woman you got there mister, she threated to kick my ass if we tried to take her away before she saw you, thing is I think she could do it. I gave her some Demerol for the pain. Her right foot is pretty bad. Other than that she's ok, except for that personality of hers."

Faxon laughed as he got into the ambulance and sat beside her. Harper's eyes were nearly closed.

"Shit I'm high, you ok?"

"I'm fine, you're hurt, damn miracle you're not dead, I saw you go over and thought what the hell am I going to do with a crazy bitch like you?"

"I can think of a few things, why don't you shut those doors and we'll see what comes up, it's been a while."

"That's the Demerol talking. You go to the hospital and as soon as I get the cars away from here I'll be right there, your right foots pretty messed up. I'll be waiting for you when their done."

The ambulance pulled away, and Faxon talked with John.

"You're gonna find that a lot of shipping containers on the Desert Sun has stolen goods, no telling how many have firearms."

"Yea I was looking at the guns those guys were carrying, your damn lucky you weren't killed. I told Harper when she called not to go on board, and wait for us," John said.

"She doesn't take instruction well, but it was a good thing she got aboard, she saved my life."

"There's going to be an investigation into the death of Brantley. He wasn't armed when they took him out of the water. Bad guy or not the authorities frown on vigilante's outright committing murder. With my testimony about how he had tried to kill her before it shouldn't be but a formality."

"Yea I don't think the department would want the bad publicity when they try to prosecute someone like Harper Lewis. How about getting me some help with driving the SUV to the parking garage."

Faxon drove the old Jeep and John drove the SUV with an officer driving his unmarked Crown Vic behind them to the parking garage. John said he'd call tomorrow when the reports were written, Faxon would have to come in to give his official statement. He also told him that he would need to get a statement from Harper tomorrow as soon as the anesthetic wore off.

Faxon drove the Porsche Cayenne to the hospital and called Aunt Rachel.

"Hello, this better be good it's 3:00 fucking am," Rachel said.

"Is it something in the Lewis family genetics or what," Faxon said.

"Did you and Harper find each other?"

"Yea we did, and we found Benjamin Brantley too, he's dead, Harper was hurt she's in the hospital, she'll be fine but she hurt her foot pretty bad. They have her in surgery now, she'll be fine, but it's a damn miracle, she fell more than a hundred feet into the water, it killed Brantley."

"You should know it'd take more than that to kill her, so she got Brantley?"

"Yea, he's dead," Faxon said.

"Good, maybe we can get back to some form of normalcy, and Linda can find some kind of happy ending with the girls," Rachel said.

"I'm not going to abandon them Rachel, I made a promise I mean to keep. I guess I let those girls get to me."

"I'm on my way to the hospital."

Faxon, Rachel and Conner sat in the waiting room and eventually a doctor came out, it was 6:00 am and they were all exhausted.

"The surgery went fine she broke four metatarsals, the acicular, and the talus, she tore the ligaments and broke the lower Fibula. I repaired all the damage and despite that she'll heal fine as long as she does as told. I put on a fiberglass cast, from the condition she's in I presume she's a very active young woman and the hardest part of her rehabilitation is going to be keeping her off of it to heal. She should be in a room soon, but probably won't wake for a little while and she'll have an IV drip with a low dose of Demerol for pain. A nurse will come out when they get her settled in."

"You guys don't have to stick around," Faxon said. "I'll stay with her."

"We have to be at Landau's at 10:00 am so we may as well stick around for a while," Rachel said.

It was about thirty minutes before a nurse came out to the waiting room, she explained Harper had been moved to a private room on the fourth floor, room 422, and that she was still unconscious from the antistatic. Rachel, Conner, and Faxon went up to the room. The private room was large but there was only one chair, it was a nice reclining chair where a family member, husband, or wife could stay in the room with a recovering loved one and be somewhat comfortable. Faxon went and got two straight back chairs and they all had a place to sit.

Faxon explained what had happened from the time he had called Linda to checking in on her and the girls at Landau's estate. He told them how Harper must have climbed across the mooring ropes and got aboard the Desert Sun, and how she had showed up just in time to save him from the man with the machinegun. He recounted seeing her follow Brantley up to the roof of the wheelhouse and how he had to kill the Captain, find the key then get up to the roof just in time to see Harper and Brantley go over the side, and how it made him sick to his stomach watching her hit the water at that height.

Rachel and Conner had to leave to be at Landau's home by 10:00 am for the girl's lessons and Faxon promised to call when she woke. He moved the comfortable recliner close to the hospital bed and laid it back, he was able to hold her hand and soon fell asleep. He felt Harper pull her hand away and Faxon sat the chair up, then stood and pushed Harper's hair away from her face. She opened her eyes and smiled.

"Where am I? What happened? Oh ya, I remember seeing you in the ambulance, right?"

"Ya, they operated on your foot and leg it was pretty messed up, but it's all fixed up now the surgeon said you'll be good as new."

"Sit me up," Harper tried to sit up but she was still too sedated. Faxon used the bed control to elevate the bed until she was in a more sitting position. She looked down at her feet. "Why is one so big she slurred?" Faxon moved the covers so she could see the short fiberglass cast. "So no dancing I guess, what about my workouts? Shit what's this?" Harper looked at the IV."

"Their giving you fluids, and something for the pain, you want some water?"

"Ya, some water please."

Faxon went and got some ice and water and came back. He put some ice in a white foam cup then put some water in but just a little then held it for her to sip. Harper smiled again.

"Is everything ok with us? I mean you forgive me for being such an ass? I had a dream that mom and dad were proud of me for seeing this thing through. I know it was more for me than them but I feel like that's all behind me now. So are we ok? You're not in love with Linda are you?"

"No, I'm not in love with Linda, I do owe her and the kids, I promised I'd take care of them if she'd come and testify. And yes we're ok."

"Kiss me," Faxon gladly complied. "You want to get under the covers with me, she giggled?"

"You're still on Demerol."

He called Landau and Harper talked to Rachel even though she was still a little high. Faxon spent the day with her and feed her even though Harper was disgusted by the hospital food.

After the girls lessons Rachel and Conner came back to the hospital and that gave Faxon time to go home, take a shower, and change clothes then he spent the night at the hospital in the reclining chair. The next day was much the same, only Faxon brought her food in, the second night he ordered eight pizzas from the best place in Boston, one for him and Harper and the rest for the floor nurses. They all teased Faxon warning him they would come in to check Harper's vitals any time and he'd have to wait for sex until they got her home.

Harper was off the IV and they talked about where they would live until her recovery, Faxon wanted her to go home and he would come and visit. Rachel told them Landau had offered for them both to stay at his estate where he'd have round the clock nursing care for Harper. They both turned that down it would have been to uncomfortable being so close to Linda, Harper was still jealous of the time her and Faxon had spent together. Harper had insisted that she be with him, if it was at the apartment then that was fine with her, they had lived there together before.

The next morning Faxon had the SUV pulled up in front of the hospital for Harper's ride to the apartment. He went in and up to the fourth floor and she was dressed in a pair of jeans, the right leg split up the side to accommodate the cast. She wore a t-shirt and a dark blue button up shirt with a collar. She wore her hair back in a ponytail, and Faxon had promised to wash it for her when they got to the apartment. He carried her crutches and a nurse pushed Harper in a wheelchair.

Down the elevator, then down the hall and through the sliding glass double doors where the Porsche SUV waited. The valet opened the passenger's door and Harper stood up. Faxon put the crutches in the back and walked back around to help her in, they laughed about having to go upstairs once they got to Ned Devin's, when a woman's voice called his name from behind them.

"Faxon my love I'm here, they've been trying to keep us apart, but I'm here now and we can finally be together."

The nurse looked and her face turned white, and she backed away. The valet fell backwards. Harper turned to see who was talking but was so confused everything seemed to move in slow motion. Faxon's face turned white. It was Amy Lindsey, aka stalker bitch, and she was raising a gun in her right hand and pointed it at Harper. Faxon stepped in front of her at the same time trying to reach for the semi-automatic hand gun. He saw the muzzle flash, and felt something hit him in the left shoulder. Then he saw it flash again and something hit him in the stomach and he went down.

Harper screamed but she couldn't get to the woman with the gun, Faxon was lying between them. The woman looked down at Faxon with a blank look on her face and saw blood everywhere.

"I'm coming with you my love," she said calmly.

Harper watched her put the gun to the side of her head and then she saw the muzzle flash again and the woman's head looked misshapen at first, as if in slow motion. Then a spray of blood from the other side of the woman's head as the bullet exited. Harper heard more than one person scream and people were running everywhere. She fell to her knees and turned Faxon over onto his back and immediately put her hands over the wound in his stomach. Blood poured between her fingers. Faxon looked up at her grimacing in pain.

"Don't you dare die on me you son of a bitch, I'll fucking kill you if you leave me now," tears streamed down her cheeks.

Four EMT's were there moving her out of the way. They moved him onto a fold down gurney, raised it and began wheeling it into the emergency room with two surgeons right beside it working as it moved. Harper sat back in the wheelchair blood covered her hands, forearms, and the front of her shirt.

Harper sat where she was with chaos going on around her. Faxon was still alive and the surgeons had been right there. The dead woman that had done the shooting was still where she fell, a sheet covering her. Police had showed up and the identification on the body said she was Amy Lindsey, as soon as Harper heard the name she knew who she was. Faxon had told her the story of the development of the first rule; never get involved with a client. Detective John Walker had showed up when he heard who had been shot. A quick search reviled she had just gotten out of the state mental hospital and apparently had been following the case on the news.

After calling Rachel and Conner they showed up and Harper used a room. She showered and put on a clean set of clothes then she was pushed in her wheelchair down to the emergency waiting room.

Rachel called Linda and Landau they decided not tell the girls until they knew Faxon was going to make it and Rachel promised to call as soon as he got out of surgery. Harper called Lew and he reluctantly told her he would come to the hospital when they moved Faxon to a room, maybe tomorrow. She used Faxon's phone to get the number for James Cullen, Boston Herald reporter, Faxon and him had become good friends. She found numbers on his phone for Barbie, and called her. Then Shira Brennon, and Lisa Colman, all of them cried and said a prayer then told her they were on their way to the hospital.

Harper looked through Faxon's numbers and saw, mom and dad. She remembered him telling her he hadn't seen them in years that they had retired to Florida. Harper dialed the number and a woman answered.

"Hello, Faxon?" she must have seen the caller ID.

"Hello, Mrs. Bennett, my names Harper Lewis, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Faxon was shot twice today, and he's in surgery now."

"Oh my God," Harper could tell she couldn't catch her breath and she set to phone down. "Thomas, Thomas, come quick, it's Faxon. Oh God Thomas he's been shot."

"Hello, this is Thomas Bennett, who am I speaking with?"

"My names Harper Lewis Mr. Bennett, Faxon was shot twice today and he's still in the operating room. Mr. Bennett if you and your wife want to come to Boston I could call the airport where you are and arrange for a jet to fly you here."

"Well, I mean, I don't think we could fly out that fast."

"Mr. Bennett I think if you were to ask your wife she'd want to be here when Faxon makes it out of surgery and intensive care. I can arrange for the flight and take care of the cost, I'll have someone pick you up at the airport and take care of all you arrangements while you're here and your return flight when you're ready to leave."

"Well Ms. Lewis why would you do all that for people you don't even know?"

"Because I have the means Mr. Bennett and because I'm in love with your son."

Harper made all the arrangements they would board the next available flight and the tickets were waiting at the gate for them when they got there. Conner agreed to go pick them up when the flight came in.

It was thirteen hours from the time they wheeled Faxon away until a surgeon came out, he looked exhausted. He walked out and sat down in a chair across from Harper, she still sat in a wheel chair and her right leg was propped up in front of her. Rachel and Conner sat beside the doctor and Barbie, Lisa, and Shira stood around them.

"Well he'll live," the surgeon said. "One bullet went through his left shoulder it missed any vital arteries but did some serious damage. It was the bullet that went through his abdomen that caused us so many problems. It missed his spine but there was a lot of damage to his intestines, and he lost a kidney, it was a lot of work patching him up. He'll be out for hours we want to keep him that way for a while so he'll be in intensive care, you may as well go home and get some rest."

Rachel and Conner went home for a while they'd have to be at the airport in a few hours to meet Faxon's parents when their flight arrived at Logan International airport. Barbie, Lisa, and Shira offered to help but Harper refused, the three women that had come to consider Faxon a good friend went home. She agreed to call as soon as he woke and could have visitors which might be a day or so. The closest hotel was a Residence Inn Marriott and Harper had a cab take her there after making sure the head floor nurse in the ICU ward would call her if Faxon woke or if there was any problems. She got a ground floor room with wheel chair access and a female attendant helped her. She had her crutches but hadn't used them yet, while she was at the desk she arranged for a room next to hers for Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. Harper set her alarm for four hours and lay down on the bed quickly falling to sleep.

Conner stood with Rachel near the escalator where travelers would come down to baggage, he held a sign that said Bennett's. It wasn't long before a tall man with salt and pepper hair in very good physical condition walked up to them with a pretty lady. She was tall, five foot ten, and slender, she reminded Rachel of Harpers mother.

"We're the Bennett's, I'm Thomas and this is my wife Karen." He extended his hand and they shook.

"I'm Harper's Aunt Rachel this is my friend Conner, let's get your bags and we'll go to the hospital and I can explain on the way."

It wasn't a long drive from the airport to the hospital but Rachel was able to explain about Harper's parents being killed, and the death of Harper's husband. Then the explanation about the plot and illegal activities of Benjamin Brantley, and the attempted murder of Harper and the murders of other businessmen in the Boston Area. The drug operations, the theft operations, the sale of fire arms to Saudi Nationals that were being given to Islamic radicals all trained by ex-marines under Brantley's organization. Rachel explained how the FBI, NSA, the DA, and the State Department had all given credit publicly to Faxon for his work on the case, and Brantley had made the top wanted list because of Faxon. Then she told the story of Faxon and Harper on board the Desert Sun and how he had kept the ship from slipping away with Brantley, the illegal shipment of arms, the hundreds of millions in stolen goods, and ex-marines involved in training radicals that were killing American service men and Diplomats overseas.

Last of all Rachel told the story of how Harper and Faxon had become so close. Faxon protected Harper while they both investigated, at the time not knowing who was behind the murders. They had lived together in the small apartment, sharing a bed but not physically together for months. Rachel told how they had finally fallen in love, and she left out the time or reason they were apart.

At the hospital Harper stood up when she saw Rachel and Conner come in with a man and woman that were obviously Faxon's parents. She was able to put a little weight on her walking short cast. Karen Bennett was first to Harper and hugged her as introductions were made.

"How's my son," she asked?

"He's still unconscious, and still in intensive care, they tell me it's not uncommon for him to not have woken yet after such a long surgery. The surgeon assured me he'd make a complete recovery."

"What the hell has my son done to have had such a beautiful woman fall in love with him, Thomas asked?

"You're too kind Mr. Bennett, it's me that's the lucky one, you and Mrs. Bennett have raised a rare honorable, kind, respected, and incredibly handsome man. You're going to meet some people that really love him, you should be very proud."

Landau, Linda, and the girls came into the waiting room, and the girls went straight to Rachel their teacher. Introductions were made and Harper gave them the same update that she had given Faxon's parents. Only when the head nurse of the intensive care unit walked up did they talking stop.

"Harper, Faxon's awake and asking for you."

Harper used her crutches and followed the head nurse through the double doors that the nurse activated with her security access card. When she walked into the room a doctor was examining the wounds in his chest and abdomen. A nurse was taking his vitals, blood pressure, temperature, the doctor checked his eyes with a small pin light, He wrote on a chart and shook his head. The nurse hung another bag of fluids and checked a urine bag hanging from the side of the bed. The doctor put the chart back and looked at Harper.

"You'd think there was nothing wrong with him. Just the same don't let him get up and walk out," the Doctor teased.

Harper moved over to the side of the bed and looked down at Faxon, she put her hand on his cheek leaned down and kissed him.

"I was so afraid she was going to kill you. Did she shoot anyone else?"

"No, when she saw you laying on the ground bleeding she said something like, I'm coming with you dear, then she put the gun to her head and killed herself. There's a lot of people here to see you. I don't know if they'll let them all in here, they might wait until they move you into a regular room. Your parent's are here."

"What? How'd they find out," Faxon asked in a whisper.

"I called them, your mom's been crying, your dad wanted to know what the hell I'm doing with you, I told him I fell and hit my head."

Faxon smiled. "Kiss me again." This time it was a little longer and more passionate. "I love you, we still ok?"

"Yea we're still ok." Harper kissed him again. "I love you. I meant to tell you I got my PI license, so now we'll have to change the name of our business. I think Lewis and Bennett Investigations sounds good."

"Oh you do, well I'm the managing partner so I don't think that's negotiable."

* * *

Look for Faxon, Harper, family and friends in their next adventure, _Muted Murder_.
