Текст книги "Заговор мечей"
Автор книги: Джейн Doy Press
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Текущая страница: 39 (всего у книги 40 страниц)
He nodded, grinning. “Got it. Wanna give me his name, please?”
She smiled at him.
Teren was waiting by the car when Alex came out of the house, followed by Cliff. She noticed Alex grinning, and let a smile cross her own face.
“Everything okay?”
“Yep. We’re to follow Cliff in, and then go directly to the Director’s office.”
“Good.” Teren glanced up at the older man as he approached. “Morning, Cliff.”
“Morning, Teren. How are you?”
“Ready to eat crow,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“Huh?”
“Well, I was the one who really suspected you might be our culprit. Alex tried to tell me otherwise, but I ….” she let her voice trail off. “Anyway, I’m sorry. I guess I should have trusted Alex’s instincts.”
“No problem. I hear they remove your ability to trust as part of the entrance requirement for CIA jobs.” He grinned and winked at her.
Alex seated herself behind the desk to wait. It was a nice office, she reflected, lined with wood panelling and furnished with a wide oak desk. The dark rust carpet was padded enough so that footsteps were hardly noticeable, and the large black executive’s chair was very comfortable. The desk was obviously a work desk, with stacks of files on both front corners. Well used writing utensils were held in a cup within easy reach, and a half empty coffee mug was sitting on a stained coaster that advertised a micro beer from a local brewhouse.
As she sat in the comfortable rolling chair, she wondered who would be using this desk next.
Moments later, the door opened, and the normal occupant of the office walked in, his briefcase in his hand.
Alex frowned. He was early.
He saw her and stopped.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Waiting for you,” Alex said easily.
“Well, who the hell let you in? You’re not even supposed to be in the building.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
The man approached the desk with a scowl. “Cause you’ve been suspended, and you know it.”
“Oh, but that suspension was lifted, just this morning. I thought you would have heard.”
His scowl deepened, his eyes throwing off angry sparks. “That’s not possible. The Director said he would not reinstate you until a full investigation was made, and that wouldn’t take place until after the case was finished.”
“Well, I met with him this morning, and presented my evidence. He found the charges against me to have no foundation. He threw them out, and even told me I’d receive pay for this whole period.” She smiled. “Pretty nice of him, wasn’t it?”
The man in front of her growled.
“Fine. So you’ve been reinstated. Now get the fuck out of my chair, and out of my office.”
“No.”
He stared at her. “What?”
“I said no.”
“I’ll have you up on charges of insubordination, Reis.”
“No, you won’t.” Alex kept her voice calm, and spoke with a smile on her face.
“And why not?”
“Because you’ll be dealing with too many other charges. Far too many to think about my insubordination.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Of course,” Alex continued, “after all that settles, and you’re in prison, then you might think about it. A lot. For a very long time.” Her voice was very mild as she leaned forward, folding her arms on the desktop.
He put his briefcase on the desk and leaned down towards her. “Look, you little dyke, you may be back in the Bureau, but if you don’t get out, I’m going to make your life hell.”
Slowly, her eyes locked on his, Alex stood. “You can try. But whatever you do? I’ll still be here, and you won’t.”
He laughed. “Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“Because I know who you are.”
“Really? And who am I?”
Alex smiled, with a feral tilt to her lips. “You are FBI Assistant Director Calivin James Bishop.” She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Or should I just call you CJ?”
His eyes widened and he reached for his gun.
“Ah-ah.” The muzzle of a .45 was pressed against the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t want you to do anything stupid, CJ.” Teren said. She reached inside his jacket and took his weapon, handing it to Alex, who immediately removed the clip. “Now, why don’t you just have a seat? I’m sure Dawkins and White would love your company in their holding cell – and we’ll have somebody come right in to take you down there.”
He sat down gingerly, his eyes never leaving Alex’s.
“Aren’t you going to ask how we figured it out?”
He didn’t say anything.
Alex continued. “It wasn’t that hard, really. Dawkins and White don’t like you very much.” She shrugged. “Of course, they couldn’t tell us your name, but once we showed them your picture, they had lots to tell us. White’s so angry about you having his wife killed, that it wasn’t too hard for the Justice Department to get him to agree to testify. Dawkin’s blames you for everything. Especially for sending Treville to try and kill him.”
Bishop spat on the floor. “May their souls all burn in hell.”
Teren shrugged, backing off but keeping the gun pointed at his head. “They probably will. Of course, you’ll be right beside them.”
He turned and glared at her.
“No. I will go to Heaven, and sit at the right hand of God, for all I have done has been for His glory, and in His name.”
“You killed people in the name of God.” Alex shook her head. “That’s just sick.”
“You’re the sick one, you dyke. You reject God’s word, and blaspheme His name. You defile everything you touch, you perverted —”
“That’s enough,” Teren cut him off. “You’ll make no converts here, CJ. Save your preaching. Maybe they’ll let you give a sermon before they strap you into the chair. But you’re finished here. It’s over.”
He glared at her, then looked back at Alex. “You think this is over?” Bishop sneered at her. “It hasn’t even started. You may have won this battle, but the war goes on, and we will wipe your evil from the face of the earth.”
“How?” Alex asked. “We took your bank account, and the treasure Eisenbein had been using. There’s nothing left.”
He laughed, and leaned towards her. “You think that was all the money? Just that one account?” His smile turned evil, and he softened his voice. “There are hundreds of accounts. Filled with billions of dollars. That wasn’t even the largest.”
“There are more Nazi accounts? From the forties?” Alex moved forward in her chair. “Where?”
His laugh grated in her ear. “Like I’d really tell you. You’re not just a dyke, you’re a Jewish dyke, doubly damned. But one day,” his eyes took on a mad glint, “one day your kind will burn in the same fires your ancestors did – and we’ll use their money to make it happen.”
Alex stood, leaning over the desk, her weight on her hands. “Yeah? Maybe. But you won’t be here to see it. If they let me I’ll throw the goddamned switch to fry you.”
“You wouldn’t have the guts, you disgusting bitch.”
Teren reached out and pushed him back into the chair. He turned and leveled a glare at her.
“You should have died in Lithuania.”
“Yeah, and you should never have been born. Just shut up. I’ve killed enough people in the last couple weeks, one more won’t really matter.”
“Then do it.”
Teren shook her head. “Oh, no. You’re standing trial, and going to prison. I won’t let you just take the easy way out.” She glanced at Alex. “Wanna go see what’s holding things up?”
“Right.”
Alex moved out from behind the desk, and started towards the door. Just as she opened it there were gunshots in the outer office. Alex drew her weapon.
Teren turned slightly at the sound, and before she could turn back, Bishop was on her. She squeezed the trigger, but the shot went well wide, and he tackled her to the floor. Grabbing a loose hold on her hair, he managed to smack the injured side of her head into the carpet. As thick as the carpet was, the blow was enough to stun Teren, and she closed her eyes for a moment, against the pain. It gave Bishop just enough leeway to yank her head up and slam it back down again, and again. Then he rolled off of her and reached for her gun.
Alex had drawn her weapon at the first sound of gunfire outside the office, and but relaxed at Cliff’s call that it was okay, the shooter was under control. She turned back toward the office in time to see Bishop roll off of Teren and pick up her .45. Teren groaned and tried to roll over, her head wound bleeding once again. At the sight of the blood, Alex raised her gun, and went to one knee. She shouted a warning, but Bishop didn’t hesitate – he brought Teren’s gun up, his finger curled around the trigger, aiming towards the stunned operative.
The sound of two shots echoed loudly in the office. For a moment, everything froze.
Then, with almost exaggerated slowness, Bishop collapsed, blood pouring from his temples, where Alex’s bullet had entered and then exited his head. There was a groan as he rolled slightly on his side, then a wheeze from his lungs.
Then silence.
Both he and Teren were still.
Chapter Forty-two – Conclusion
FBI Agent Alexia Reis let herself drop down into the chair in her partner’s living room. David was once again on the couch, this time with his wife beside him. Sarah and Maggie, who had joined them for dinner, were seated next to each other by the fireplace, Maggie comfortably snuggled in Sarah’s embrace.
“Ah, Miri, that was a wonderful dinner.”
“Thank you, Alex. I’m glad you enjoyed it. You looked like you needed something special.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. Besides, you make the best orange-sesame chicken in the world.”
Miri chuckled. “I’m not sure about that. But thanks anyway.”
David leaned forward. “So, you wanna explain what happened? Or are you keeping it to yourself?”
“No, I’ll talk.” She smiled at him. “Wish you’d been there, buddy.”
“Me, too, partner.” He winked. “Now, talk to us.”
“Okay.” She leaned her head back. “Where should I start?”
“Well, how about telling me a little about what I missed? The stuff in Europe would be nice.”
“Europe. Okay.”
Alex started the tale of how Teren had taken her to Switzerland, and their investigation at the art gallery, and the dinner with Meinhard. She continued with their receipt of the bank records and the discovery of their pursuers, then the subsequent train ride to Germany.
“You mean you guys took a five hour train ride together. In a sleeper car.”
“Yes, Miri.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Don’t tell me you spent the whole five hours talking about the case, Alex.”
“No.” The blonde grinned. “We played chess.”
She continued on, explaining their trip to Jurgen von Odbert’s house. Alex had to swallow when she spoke of the old man’s suicide. That was followed by a quiet recounting of the gun battle in the cemetery, and her fear when Teren had been shot. She stopped for a moment, letting the tears roll down her cheeks. Miri handed her a box of tissues, and she offered back a sad smile.
“So, that was the day that Gerd and I went through the papers that the BKA had seized from Eisenbein’s office.”
“And you found the connections between them and Treville and Dawkins?”
“Right. See, Radcliffe had agreed to the principle of CJ’s plan, but wanted nothing to do with the operations. So, he had Treville dealing directly with Eisenbein. They set up the separate account, with Treville and Richmond’s name on it. The money came from the fortune Odbert, or Hoppe, had collected during and after the war.”
“What was the plan?” asked Sarah.
“Well, to put it simply, they wanted to kill certain individuals, and blame it either on the far left or the far right, whichever they could, to make themselves seem more rational. Meanwhile, they started getting rid of people who were either in their way, or who stood for things they hated. They also wanted the left to be afraid, too afraid to act – and for a short while, they succeeded.”
“Okay,” David sat up a little straighter and frowned. “So, you guys found the connection, and the papers that named the guilty parties. Then you came back. Why didn’t you just go to Cliff and the Justice Department and have them arrested?”
“Because we had no idea who CJ was. With him still loose, nothing was certain. We could have arrested whoever, and he would have either killed them to stop them from talking – which is what he sent Treville and Davies to do —or he would have found a way to destroy our case. Director Collins knew from Ken and Cliff that there had to be a traitor, and he knew the guy would protect himself – which was why he had a CIA badge waiting for me when Teren and I got to the safe house. He figured that if he could get me out of the clutches of CJ, whoever he was, no more information would slip through– and Teren and I could close in on the others. Because of the international connections, the CIA had legal right to be involved. And while they couldn’t hold White and Dawkins as prisoners for the US, they could for Germany – which they did. The BKA wants all of them for their participation in Eisenbein’s Nazi agenda. It’s a serious crime in Germany, and if we hadn’t ever gotten to CJ, White and Dawkins would have been handed over to them.”
“But now?” Maggie asked.
“Now, they’re testifying against Richmond. In return, the BKA will not prosecute them in Germany. Though, they did have to agree to a long prison sentence, and a very large restitution. Basically, they both lost everything.”
David shook his head. “I still don’t understand. If Mark and Ben were able to get the information on Richmond while reporting in at the Bureau, why didn’t CJ, or rather, Bishop, warn Richmond, or try to get rid of Mark and Ben?”
“Cause he didn’t know. Mark and Ben had told Cliff they were chasing the money angle. They also told him that they thought there was a traitor in the FBI. He agreed, and let them have free reign. They didn’t tell anyone anything. So, nothing got to Bishop on what they were doing. With Tom and Rudy off chasing White, there was no one else on the team to give Bishop, or Richmond, the message.”
“How did they get their information?”
“Through the tax returns I’d requested, and through Jenny, from Research, who spent several days with them going through the records.”
“And they found a way to link him to the killings?”
Alex laughed and shook her head. “No, David, they didn’t. Which is really ironic. Richmond wasn’t originally arrested for anything involving the conspiracy. He was arrested for tax fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, and money laundering. If Dawkins and White hadn’t agreed to testify against him, he wouldn’t have been linked to the conspiracy by anything but two very flimsy German documents. He’d have pled out and be serving time at a federal resort, instead of looking at life in Leavenworth or some other place.”
“Think it’s a strong case against him?” Miri asked.
“Yeah, definitely. I mean, we were able to bring charges on the original warrant, and then add conspiracy, six counts of conspiracy to commit murder, six counts of murder, one attempted murder, as well as a myriad of lesser felonies. If convicted, he’ll never get out. And if ever he does make parole, he’s to be sent to Germany on charges against the German people.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Maggie said.
Alex nodded.
“Okay. So, you confronted Richmond, and he told you about Bishop? That he was CJ?”
“Nope.” Alex smiled. “But he gave me a clue without realizing it. He said he could call CJ. The phrase kind of stuck in my head, and I started thinking about calling, and phones, and cell phones, and last dialed numbers, and then numbers in the memory. I figured if Treville and CJ were that close, he’d have the number in his cellular. So, Teren and I went and found the phone. Bishop’s house was number 4 in Treville’s cellular memory.”
“Once you knew that, you went to Cliff?”
“Right.” Alex nodded. “Once we knew for sure that it wasn’t Cliff, we knew we needed his help to get Bishop. So, we went to see him, and Director Collins – who reinstated my badge that Wednesday morning. But, as a final precaution, he had us bring White and Dawkins in from the safe house where they were being held. They’d already identified a picture of Bishop, but Collins wanted a rep from the JD there, along with himself, to make it official. After that, Cliff would come up to help in the arrest.”
“So, what went wrong?” Miri asked quietly.
Alex stared at the floor. “Everything.” She sighed. “For starters, Teren and I were supposed to just wait in the office. Cliff was supposed to join us, and we’d all arrest Bishop. But he he came in early for some reason, and Cliff was late.” She shook her head. “No one even considered the possibility that anyone else was in it with him. I mean, we knew about Tom and Rudy, but figured that had been it. So, when his secretary tried to stop Cliff and the others from entering Bishop’s office, it was a complete shock. It’s a good thing she couldn’t shoot, or there would have been several dead agents in that hall. Instead, they got lucky, and took her down with a couple shots. She’ll stand trial in place of her boss – who we later found out was her lover.”
David tilted his head. “I thought Bishop was married.”
“He is. Had two mistresses, it turned out. One is going to prison, the other is trying to convince everyone that she knew nothing of what was going on.”
“Think she’s telling the truth?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah, Sarah, I do. I think it’s very likely that she didn’t have a clue. After all, she was a twenty-two year old dancer that he picked up one night and decided to keep as his lover. She barely knew anything about him – he just paid her rent and came by to screw her once in a while.”
Maggie wrinkled her nose. “That’s sick.”
“Uh-huh.” Alex leaned her head back again, and sighed. “I really wanted to take the son-of-a-bitch alive, but I’m not that unhappy he’s dead, you know? I mean, the Conspiracy is broken, Brogan, Treville, and Bishop are dead, as well as their German counterpart Eisenbein. White and Dawkins will testify against Richmond, who’s going to go to jail for a long time. Hell, he might just end up with the death penalty – who knows?”
David nodded. “We can only hope.” He held Miri’s hand. “So, Alex, what about Tom and Rudy? They were working for Bishop?”
“Yeah. That was the reason they were put on the task force – to basically make it an inefficient operation, and keep Cliff under control. Tom made the phone call from Cliff’s office to the Philly P.D. Rudy was the one who kept CJ informed of things in our investigation. That’s how CJ knew that we were meeting with Brogan. Cliff told the task force, and Rudy told Bishop.”
“And how did Davies fit in? He was in it, too?”
“Yeah, Dave. He pulled the trigger on the bomb that killed Mather and Wilford. He was there, remember?”
“Right.”
“Well, I checked the tape again yesterday, and found him. There’s one point where he turns and makes eye contact with Mather, then he quickly leaves the room. It’s just minutes before Mather kills Dabir.”
“He left so he wouldn’t be in the room when Dabir was killed?”
“Well, no. He left because he needed an unrestricted place to detonate the bomb. He left the hotel by another entrance, and waited till Mather and Wilford were moving, then he flipped the switch.” She shifted her position in her chair. “He also killed Wister, before the ambush, so he couldn’t call for back up. The gun he killed Treville with was the same .22 he used that night in Philly. They found it in the limousine with his body.”
David shook his head. “But why did he do it?”
“He was Bishop’s cousin. Seems family was important to these two. When we had Treville cornered, he considered giving us CJ to save himself. Davies killed him for it.”
“Huh.”
“Alex?” Sarah’s voice was quiet. “Is it over now? For good?”
Alex sighed. “I don’t know, Sarah. I think so.” But in her mind she could hear Bishop telling them that there were more accounts, more Nazi money in the hands of the right wing. “We can only hope so.”
They were quiet for several moments, until the sound of feet on the steps pulled all their eyes to the front door. It opened to reveal Arlea, riding atop the shoulders of her newest playmate.
Ken Thomas came in behind them. “Hey, did you guys know Arlea is talking?”
David laughed. “Yeah, she’s been getting pretty vocal. Her favorite word is go. What’d she say this time?”
“She said ‘ride’ – and then she pointed to Teren.” He glanced at the woman carrying the little girl on her shoulders. “And Teren obliged.”
Everyone grinned.
Alex stood up and sauntered over, following Miri, who was gently trying to pull her squalling daughter off Teren’s neck.
“Hey, easy, kid, watch the head. No pulling the hair, remember?”
Finally, they got the girl disentangled. Teren leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, receiving a very wet kiss back. She wiped her face while Miri carried her daughter to the restroom to wipe the ice cream from her face.
“I was about to come looking for you, Ter. Thought maybe I’d lost my playmate for good.”
Teren grinned. “Nah. I’m just an interesting diversion. She’ll be back to climbing all over you in just a couple of days – you’ll see.”
“MmHmm.” Alex nodded. “Thing is, though – I wasn’t talking about Arlea.” She winked into the blue eyes.
Teren winked back. “Not a chance, pal. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
“Why would I try?”
“Don’t know. But don’t bother.”
She leaned forward and kissed Alex on the cheek.
Completely forgetting that they were in front of several friends.
Ken grinned. Maggie and Sarah chuckled, while David whistled.
“Hey, Alex? Do I have to come stand guard over your virtue?”
“You try it, David, and I’ll kick you in your virtues.”
They all laughed.
Alex leaned closer to Teren. “Was a great dinner, huh?”
“Yep. Sure was.”
“But I’m ready to go home. Will you drive me?”
“Yep. Sure will.” Teren winked and put an arm around her shoulders.
They said their good byes, with many hugs between all of them. Teren smiled and laughed, amazed at how wonderful it was to have friends again. She felt a slight pang in her heart as she thought of Perry, and how he would have loved the laughter of this group. For a moment Teren was filled with a sense of melancholy. But it passed quickly, unable to stand up under the weight of the hugs of her friends, and the feeling of Alex’s hand in hers as they walked to her car.
They didn’t say much as she drove. They didn’t need to . As Teren pulled to a stoplight, she’d glance over to find Alex’s eyes on her, watching her closely. She’d smile, and Alex would smile back.
Alex’s apartment house was only blocks away when Teren broke the silence.
“Can I stay?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
Alex opened the door to her apartment, fully expecting to be jumped on by her furry four-legged companion. When she wasn’t, she looked up to find Teren holding Appleby in one hand, high above their heads.
“Teren, what are you doing?”
“He jumped. I caught him.” Even as she spoke, she moved her arm back towards the top of the bookcase, and the cat scrambled back up to his perch, looking rather indignant at having been stopped mid-leap.
“He always jumps. I’m used to it.”
“Yeah, well, if I’m going to be visiting, he and I are going to have to talk about that little habit. He’s gotta stop trying to surprise me, or one day I might turn him into a Swiss Cheese kitty – with lots of little holes in him.” She glared up at Appleby, almost daring him to jump down on her.
He appeared bored, and began to wash himself.
Alex laughed. “Ignored by a cat. Gee, maybe you’re not as tough as you think, Miss Superspy.”
Teren looked at her. “What did you call me?”
“Hm? Oh, nothing. It was just a name Ken invented for you.”
“Uh-huh. I’ll have to talk to him about that.”
They pulled off their coats, and Teren kicked her shoes off. Alex pulled her boots off, and put them in her room.
“Have a seat on the couch, Ter. I have something I think you might like.” She disappeared into the tiny kitchen.
Teren sat, leaning back a bit. She closed her eyes and rested – until the thump of something hitting the floor made her sit straight up.
She glared at Appleby. “You know, cat, you and I are gonna talk.”
He seemed unconcerned, regarding her with an innocent look.
“Ah, don’t play that game with me. I know what evil thoughts lurk in the minds of cats. I had one growing up, and I know what you little guys can do. So, don’t try to play the angel with me – it won’t work, cat.”
Alex stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, regarding her friend on the sofa.
“Talking to the cat? Should I be worried?”
Teren grinned at her. “Nah – Now if I start talking to the walls, then you need to be careful.”
“Gotcha.” She approached the couch, carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I called over to Pedro’s, and asked Phillipe for a bottle of wine. He recommended this one. I hope you like it.” She sat down next to her friend and poured.
Teren tasted the deep red liquid, and sighed. “Heavenly.” She gently swirled the wine in her glass, watching as Alex poured her own glass, and set the bottle on the coffee table. the blonde then turned sideways on the couch to face her. Teren did the same, facing her friend.
For a few minutes, they simply drank their wine, letting their bodies and minds relax. There was no where else they had to be, and nothing else they had to be doing. For the first time since they’d met, neither was occupied with anything other than what was happening, right there, and right then.
Teren found herself tongue-tied.
Alex was just nervous.
“Alex?”
“Yes?”
Teren hesitated. “Thanks for not letting him kill me.”
Alex stared into her glass. If he had, I would have killed myself. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry he hurt you at all.”
“Ah, don’t worry.” She rapped on the side of her head, opposite her wound. “Hard head, remember?”
“Yeah, right.” Alex could still see the blood pouring from her friend’s head, the dazed blinking of the blue eyes as she held Teren in the office of the former Assistant Director.
“Hey.” Teren reached over and touched her face. “Alex? Don’t do that. It’s over. It’s okay.”
Green eyes met blue, and Alex swallowed, unable for a moment to break the spell of memory. Then Teren leaned forward and kissed her.
When they broke apart, she was able to smile.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
They sat for a few more moments, just enjoying the peace, and the wine, and each other’s company.
“Would you like some music?” Teren asked. “I brought a CD over for you. A fairly new group, mainly accoustic guitar and piano. They’re really good. From Colorado. Ann sent it to me.”
Alex winced inside at the name of Teren’s old lover. Teren stroked her cheek again.
“Don’t be jealous, Alex. She said I should play it for you.”
“She did?”
Teren nodded.
“Then I’d love to hear it.”
“Hang on.” She got up and retrieved her jacket, pulling a CD case out of the inside pocket. “I will tell you,” she said as she moved to the stereo, “the lyrics are kind of , um, intense.”
“How so?” Alex wondered if she was seeing things, or if Teren was truly blushing as she put the CD into the player.
“Well, they’re kind of, um, uh —” She stopped. “Just listen, okay? You’ll see what I mean.”
Alex smiled and nodded. Teren pushed the play button and moved back to the couch, picking up her wine glass as she went.
The soft strains of a violin, accompanied by a strummed guitar floated out of her speakers. Alex looked up from her wine glass to find Teren’s eyes on her.
We are long lived butterflies —
always striving towards inner beauty,
inner peace, when daily struggles,
the stresses of life; its routine,
weigh heavily on us; wear us down.
We are chameleons —
changing, sometimes minute by minute …
Alex laughed softly. “That is so unlike you – yet it describes you.”
Teren smiled. “The song is called ‘Changelings.’ The group is really new, and young – Ann said they’re oldest member is like twenty-four or something.”
“What’s the name of the group?”
“Stone Krummholz.”
We are puppets —
manipulated by the strings …
“I like them.”
“Me, too.”
We are actors on the stage of life —
our lives out there for anyone to see,
but only on the outside.
They never see behind the masks.
No, they never see behind the masks…….
Alex nodded, looking down at her glass again. “Have you ever let anyone see behind your mask, Teren?”
Teren nodded. “Yes. But only once.” She waited for Alex’s look of inquiry, then smiled. “Only you, Alex.”
Teren leaned forward and kissed her gently, softly, barely brushing her lips to Alex’s. They stayed that way, quietly sharing soft kisses until the song faded.
Teren pulled back, taking their wine glasses and setting them aside on the coffee table. Teren let her hand caress the side of Alex’s face, sliding down her neck, to her shoulder, and then her arm. Gently she stroked her friend’s skin above her wrist, then took her hand and pulled. Alex moved closer, willingly.
The song changed, this time a solid drum providing the slow but steady rythm. Each beat seemed in time with Alex’s heart, as she felt Teren’s hands on her back, her lips sliding along Alex’s jawline.
I want all of you; I cannot get enough.
Each kiss is more intense as
your touch goes deep, sending me into
a whirlwind of sensation …
As Teren’s lips touched her throat, and hands caressed her shoulders, Alex dug her fingers into her friends back. Quickly, she reached to pull Teren’s shirt from the back of her jeans.
The passion we share makes me weep
hot, helpless tears of joy …
Teren let her hands wander down Alex’s back, as she moved her lips back to her lover’s mouth. Alex moaned as Teren’s fingers slid beneath her sweater, holding her firmly. As Alex reached under Teren’s shirt, she pulled back to see the blue eyes.
Those amazing eyes, so cold and forbidding
when shuttered against the world,
are clear, warm and wide open to me …
Alex reached for the buttons of Teren’s shirt, only to find her hands caught and restrained in a firm and loving grasp.
You lift me up, holding me gently,
touching deep places
with an almost painful intensity …
“No, Alex, relax. We’re not on a schedule, here. There’s just us. No train, no one chasing us, and no one we have to go meet.” She kissed her and pulled back. “Let’s just take our time, okay?”
Alex saw the desire in Teren’s eyes, a soft passion that aroused her more than anything ever had.
Now your touch is firm, commanding.
