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As John and Sophie walked across the tarmac, she elbowed him.
"So, John, aren't you glad you went with my idea?" The Sophie now speaking with John Morrow had no accent.
He glared. "You just want to take credit, because you're an actress. And I don't appreciate the way you used me! You made me look like a fool."
"Well, it came naturally for both of us," she smiled. "Besides, you would never had convinced them if we went with your plan. I'm still waiting for those two little words... I know you have them somewhere in that stone cold fortress," she joked.
"Thank you," he said acidly.
"You should thank my husband," Sophie said. "I'd never have agreed to do this if he wasn't on board. It's a good thing he's one of your best friends."
"And I plan on using that friendship to twist his arm and keep his big mouth wife from blabbing to the world that the Director of the CIA was in possession of stolen goods. I hope the Knights never learn I bought two paintings from art thieves and not the owner! I wish I'd never looked into those pieces to begin with- damn ugly things! All they brought me was trouble, and I thought it would make a nice wedding gift for my niece. She doesn’t even want the first one I gave her!"
Sophie gave a snort of laughter. "Can you blame her? She agrees with your assessment of the paintings. Did you see how worried they looked when they thought they'd be stuck with two more? Although I think Matt is as devious as you, John. He lied about their painting being sold at the secondhand store."
"Well, I'm just grateful the two I bought are going back to the rightful owner, and that my name is being left out of the mess. Oh, please tell Sally I appreciate her help at the hotel. With those kids running and screaming, me worried about my reputation, and Amanda the Huntress on the loose, I'm glad she had the forethought to arrest the real thieves. Your husband’s international law enforcement contacts are outstanding."
Sophie scolded John. "And here I thought it was my charms that had you distracted."
John choked. "Give me some credit. I don't have a death wish, and if Alexander ever thought I was really messing around with you? No offense, Sophie, but you're just not worth it."
She shook her head. "And that's why I married Alexander. What are you going to tell your niece when she asks about me?"
"I'm going to lie, what do you think? You're visiting those grand babies- thanks for that indignity, by the way- or you're helping an international art thievery case, or whatever other story sounds good at the time. Maybe you went to fat camp." He grinned. "You're not the only one with a good imagination."
"Well, I didn't imagine what I saw between Sandy-Sue and Matt," she said. "Come on, John! You're getting stubborn in your old age. Is it so hard to say it? I'll help you- you're right again, Sophie."
John shook his head and said, "I need to drop you off where you belong and have a drink."
As they boarded the private jet to Washington DC, she said, "You owe me, John."
"And you'll never let me forget," he muttered under his breath. "Typical bossy woman. That's why I never married."
She gave him a look of disbelief. "Please, John, everyone knows the real reason you never married is because you already have a wife. You’re permanently hitched to your job. Now tell that pilot to get this thing rolling. I miss my husband!"