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Harry drove them to his house. "Sorry, Sady, but Morrows insists. We'll explain. Besides, Matt's truck is here."
They settled down to pizza and beer in the Knight's living room, while CJ filled them in on the details. "When we hadn't heard from you by two, we knew something was wrong, especially since neither of you answered our calls. Security at the shopping center found your Mustang, Sady, so we asked them to check the security camera nearest your car. They saw you returning to shop, then the van pulled up, and you were no longer in the lot."
"They emailed that footage, and we called Morrow. He was still organizing things when we got your call from the police department in Detroit. As you can imagine John's furious, but I could tell he was proud of the way you handled yourselves. How did you escape?"
Sady stood and said, "Oh, shoot- I forgot. I've had this shirt from the police station tied around my waist too long. Can someone please take me home so I can change?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Sady," Harry cautioned. "Not after what happened today."
"Harry, they weren't after Sady," Daria interjected. "Someone organized the grab and arranged a place for us to be held. The two guys arrested were just local muscle hired for this job- which was to take me, not Sady. She's not the primary target, so they have no reason to go after her now."
"We still don't like it," CJ said. "Sady, someone will take you home to pack a bag. Then you're coming back here until Morrow decides what he wants to do about the situation." At the protests, she held up her hand and said, "Talk to John if you don't like it. Now, I'm getting the bottle from above the fridge. What did you do to my husband?"
Sady looked at Matt. "I guess you're driving me. Unless you want me to drive... I didn't think so," she grinned. She turned to CJ. "Hey, where's my car?"
"We left it behind the office," CJ said. "Amanda and I both had our vehicles to drive home. Don't worry, it will be okay there." She went to the kitchen to get the good booze from above the fridge while Harry pulled Matt to the side for a quiet conversation.
Sady knew what it was about when Matt unlocked his glove box and pulled out his pistol and a side holster. He checked his weapon and Sady teased, "I guess this makes you Annie Oakley now."
"And I guess we didn't spend enough quality time in Harry's back seat," he responded. "But I know how to remedy that." He backed her against the truck with a teasing smile in his eyes. Sady watched his mouth as he came closer and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. "Do you still have any gender questions?" he whispered. Sady nodded, and he breathed, "I was hoping you'd say that."
Five minutes later CJ yelled out the door, "Are you still here? Get a move on, Meadows!"
Matt smiled as he pulled away from Sady, and bent to pick up the shirt that had come untied from her waist. Part way up he froze, then he stood and gave her a worried look. "Do you need anything from the house or Harry's SUV before we leave?" Sady shook her head, and he grew desperate. "How about a plastic bag, or a box of something from Harry's SUV?" She looked bewildered, and he flushed. Then she snickered, realizing what had him in a whirl.
"It's just ketchup, Matt. But I promise to wear the shirt, okay?" He looked relieved and turned his back while she tied it around her waist. She silently giggled at his sense of chivalry. She'd bet a paycheck that if the shirt was off her top, he wouldn't look away. Rather, he'd try to sneak a peek. "You can turn around now," she said, biting the inside of her cheek. He nodded and ran to get in the truck.
On the drive to their apartment building Sady turned on the radio and belted out AC/DC's 'Money Talks' when it played. Matt reached over to turn it down and she slapped his hand. He lifted a brow and renewed his effort until she threatened him with, "Do you want me to find Alice Cooper's 'Only Women Bleed'?" He pulled his hand back like someone burned. it "That's what I thought. Ooh, here's a good one- 'Dream On' by Aerosmith! Do you like that song?"
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"Not really. I was just being polite." She sang the words, then made all the instrument sounds when there were no words to sing. She heard a laugh and stopped singing to ask, "What's with the look? Do you think I'm crazy?"
"Sassafras, you passed the crazy road marker years ago," he said tilting his head at her. "And you were probably speeding in the fast lane as you did so."
"Those beauty pageants stunted my childhood development. I think this is a result of all those years of rigid rules," she told him before yelling, "Bob Seger? Crank it up- I love 'Turn the Page!"
"I can tell," Matt smiled. He turned the radio down before they entered the parking ramp. "It's in the rules, right under the no-pets clause," he told her when she gave him a dirty look.
"I'll be sure to check," she promised as he parked. She put her hand on the handle to open her door and he shook his head. She sighed and waited, knowing she wouldn't be allowed out until he felt it was safe.
Matt checked each area- the lobby, the elevator, the hall, and her apartment- before he allowed her to advance. Once inside her apartment he turned to her with a grin. "Now I get to see your pet," he said. "I don't know if CJ will let you have a cat in her house though."
"It's not a cat," Sady replied.
"Well, I know it's not a dog. Parakeet?" Head shake. "Rodent?" Big head shake. "Snake?" Look of horror. "Okay, Sady. I give up. Where's your pet?" he asked.
"You can't make fun of him," she warned. "I named him Bob." She led Matt to the kitchen, and he laughed at the goldfish bowl on her table.
"That's not a pet, Sady. That's a dinner waiting to grow up," he teased.
She sniffed and pulled the cap off the food bottle to feed her fish. Something didn't look right, and she waved Matt to come look closer. "Is he supposed to swim like that?" she asked, as he howled with laughter. "Well, I don't know. I'm a first time pet owner, and I've never had a fish before," she said defensively.
"You don't have one now," he sputtered. "Sady, it's dead."
Her mouth dropped, and she looked into the bowl. "Are you sure he's not just sleeping?"
"I'm certain of it."
"Bob, what happened?" she asked, grabbing the fish bowl and lifting it so she could get a better look. "Can you give a fish CPR?" she asked Matt.
He took the fish bowl and said, "No, but I can give him a proper burial." Sady followed and shrieked when he flushed Bob down her toilet. "That's how it's done, Sady. Unless you wanted to fillet and grill him."
"Cannibal!" she accused, as he continued to chuckle.
"Go pack your bag, Sandy-Sue. I'll put Bob's things away so you won't have to deal with it when you return," he promised, still smiling.
She went to her bedroom muttering, "Poor Bob. Such a short life and an undignified ending. I wonder if I'm supposed to get him a memorial plaque or something." She changed her clothes, then packed her bag and met Matt at the front door.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned at the look on her face.
"I'm a bad pet owner," she replied. "Bob didn't even live here a week, and I killed him."
"Sady, Bob was an old fish. Didn't you count the stripes on his fins before you bought him?" he teased, thinking she would realize he joked.
She shook her head with a sigh. "I guess I'm not fit to be a pet owner. A responsible owner would have made sure he had the senior formula fish food. I bet that's what did him in so fast. I've learned my lesson and won't jump onto the pet ownership bandwagon again so soon. It's too stressful."
Matt took her bag and gave her a quick hug, enjoying her silly sweetness. "We'll go to the pet store so you can watch them if you want," he offered. She smiled and tucked her arm around his as they left the apartment and drove back to the Knight's.
"John's flying in tomorrow morning," CJ told Sady and Matt when she opened the door for them. "He'll meet us here instead of the office."
Matt handed Sady her bag and said to them, "I'll see you then. And I'm keeping track of my mileage," he added with a grin at CJ.
CJ turned to Sady and said, "Sorry, but I guess you get the couch since Daria's already in the guest room. I set a pillow and bedding out for you. I also hid the rest of the good stuff from Harry and Daria," she winked. "It's behind the bag of potato chips, if you want any. You know where everything else is, so help yourself."
At 7:30 Sady squinted one eye at the sounds coming from the kitchen. Happy sounds could mean only one thing. Harry was up and starting breakfast for everyone. Sady knew to expect menacing sounds and crashes when CJ was in the kitchen. And domestic skills weren't high on Daria's list of accomplishments.
She rolled off the couch, grateful she decided against the good stuff last night. With a yawn, she stumbled to the kitchen to offer Harry a hand. To her surprise, Matt was in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, watching Harry. "I guess you already have help," she mumbled, turning to leave.
"Not so fast."
She turned around and said, "Make up your mind. This is making me dizzy."
"Did you finish the bottle that CJ hid?" Harry asked with a smile.
"Nope. Check behind the potato chips," she replied. She looked at Matt, "What's the holdup? I'm going to sleep a little longer."
"Just checking the latest nightshirt," he said. Sady had a large collection of oversize T-shirts that she wore to bed. Most of them were from second -and stores, but this one looked new. The Pillsbury Dough Boy was jumping in the air and doing the splits, like a gymnast during a floor routine. He had his arms raised above his head. The caption read ROLL WITH THE DOUGH. "Did you break down and buy one?" Matt asked.
"No, I got it free with the purchase of twenty cans of refrigerated low fat biscuits," Sady replied. "It was kn impulse buy in the 'Healthy Eating' section. The shirts were right there- no mailing, no waiting. Just buy your biscuits, pick your shirt, and go. Did you know freezing those biscuits isn't recommended? I hope I didn't ruin the fridge. The cans expanded and blew up in my freezer. I might need some help to get them out." She trudged to the coffee ot and squinted at Matt. "Thanks a lot! You made my brain work, so now I might as well stay up."
He teased, "You didn't decide to get a pet the same day you bought those twenty cans of biscuits, did you?"
"What if I did?" she asked.
"I was just wondering about your mental stability," he responded.
"Sady, did you get a pet?" Harry asked.
"Yes," she responded to Harry, while she ignored Matt. "Except he's gone now. I killed him."
"Who did you kill?" CJ asked from the doorway, unwittingly starting a disjointed conversation.
"Bob," Sady replied with a sigh.
"Oh," CJ stopped, and Harry shoved a cup of lethal coffee into her hand. "Did he give you any trouble? Or did he go down easy?" CJ's brain didn't come to attention until her caffeine level reached a certain point. She wasn't there yet.
"He went down easy," Matt laughed.
"Matt flushed him," she told CJ and Harry.
"Matt flushed him out, and you killed him?" CJ continued. "Nice team work. Morrow will be happy to hear it."
Harry topped off her cup and said, "Drink," while he and Matt grinned.
Daria wandered into the kitchen, "What will Morrow be happy to hear?" she asked, as Harry handed her a cup and put on another pot of coffee.
"Sady killed Bob," CJ told Daria.
"Good for you," Daria said. "Which one was Bob?"
"He was the flashy one who liked to wear gold. He was a terrible swimmer, though," Matt joked.
"That's not true!" Sady yelled. "He was a good swimmer."
"She needs more coffee, Harry," Matt warned.
Harry looked worried. "They all need more coffee, and I need a bigger coffee maker. They're downing it faster than I can make it." CJ growled, and he said, "Here, finish mine. I didn't want it, anyway."
CJ took the cup Harry offered and gave him a smile. Harry let out a sigh of relief. CJ without morning coffee was like petting a cat with a wagging tail. They appear harmless, but a cat's tail waving doesn't have the same meaning as a dog's. Anyone foolish enough to try petting one soon learns the difference. CJ reached over and smacked Matt on the head.
"What's that for?" he asked, rubbing the sore spot.
"For lying about Sady," she said.
"Meadows, why are you lying about my niece?" They all jumped as John Morrow entered the kitchen's side door. "Do we need to have an intervention?"
"Perfect," Matt muttered, moving so his back was to the wall, and the table between him and Morrow. He glared at John. "No, we don't need an intervention. It's all a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding? I thought Sady killed Bob," Daria said.
"After you flushed him out," CJ continued.
"The only killing is gonna be who didn't let me know we were meeting here today," Amanda snapped from behind John. He must not have realized she was there because he jumped and nearly climbed over the table for a seat next to Matt.
Harry shot a worried look toward the coffee pot, wondering if he should stop feeding the monster. Maybe they'd leave if the pot ran dry. Amanda flounced around the table and pulled up a chair next to Morrow while Daria watched with awe.
"Uncle Sam," Amanda said. "Are you trying to sneak a visit without letting me know?"
Daria snickered and mumbled to CJ, "Uncle Sam? If she gets away with that, she's my hero!"
John turned pale and tried to move his chair. "Would you like to sit on my lap?" Matt offered. John nodded and everyone laughed, except Amanda. She turned to Harry.
"You'd better be fixing something besides scrambled eggs and toast, handsome. Because I'm feeling like I need blueberry pancakes. Where's the coffee?"
Harry grabbed the finally finished pot and poured a cup for Amanda. Then he refilled the women's cups and poured another for himself. Matt held out his cup for a refill and Harry said, "You're out of luck, pal. Make the next pot yourself. I have pancakes to fix."
"That's more like it," Amanda said as she grabbed Morrow by the arm. "So who got killed?"
"Bob," Daria replied.
"And Matt flushed him out," CJ said.
"Good teamwork," Morrow said. "Now, who's Bob?"
Everyone turned to look at Sady, and she turned to Matt, "Big mouth! I bet Babs told you and the landlord, didn't she?"
CJ slammed her palm on the table. "Don't introduce anyone else until you tell us about Bob." She and Daria pulled out chairs and sat at the table.
"Bob's my pet. Was my pet," Sady sighed.
"I thought you killed Bob." Daria seemed confused now.
"I did. I killed him," Sady confessed.
"Then how could Matt flush him out?" CJ asked.
"Easy. He just lifted the lid, dumped the bowl, and pressed the handle. I like to think Bob was waving as he swirled around before he disappeared. He rode the plumbing drain right out of the building into the city sewer." Sady's eyes were big as she sighed.
MJ pounded her hand on the table. "Harry, you'd better put on another pot of coffee, because we still have to make it through Babs."
Amanda looked at the other three women. "You all stayed up drinking last night, didn't you? I'm going to help handsome. He needs all the help he can get this morning. And don't take my seat," she warned before she moved across the room to help Harry prepare breakfast.
"Do I even want to ask about Babs?" CJ asked.
Matt shook his head, but Sady said, "We ran into her at the airport. Babs runs a beauty queen boot camp for over-privileged girls."
CJ looked ready to launch over the table when Matt mouthed, I tried to warn you. She told Matt, "You're just confusing us, so stay out of this conversation, or I'll be over to slap you again."
"Don't bother with the coffee, Harry," Matt told him. "Just throw some raw beans this way. I think the women are doing enough grinding and boiling... okay, but I gave you fair warning, CJ." He sat back and watched while the group of confused women finally connect on a level deeper than caffeine.
Harry and Amanda passed out plates, and Morrow asked, "So Babs has a beauty school running right now, and she wants you to be an instructor?" Sady nodded and cut into her pancakes. She choked when he continued, "That's perfect. Just the place for you and Daria to stay out of trouble until you're ready to come to Washington for the job. The bonus is Daria will get those deportment lessons after all."
Daria shot a dirty look across the table at Sady. "First, getting me kidnapped while shopping, and now a beauty school? You're ruining my reputation," She turned to Morrow and said, "If word of this gets out, I'll... I'll..."
"I'll take care of him for you," Amanda promised. "So Uncle Sam, when do us ladies leave for beauty camp?"
"I'm afraid you don't understand the situation," he said. "Sady and Daria are going, not you."
"Wrong. If you'd sent me along on that shopping trip there wouldn't have been any kidnapping. Ask Meadows how he fared in the 'forcing a woman against her will' department." John's brow went up, while Matt gave his full attention to his plate as he avoided John's probing look.
"What did you have in mind?" John asked Amanda.
She fluffed the back of her hair. "The women in my family are known for their delicate beauty and social grace. I can give the girls lessons in etiquette. Daria can help them get in shape, and Sady can teach whatever it is she does."
"Talent acts," Matt supplied. "That's why Babs wanted her."
"CJ, do you want in on the action?" John teased.
"The only action I'm interested in has to do with weapons, criminals, and Harry," she snorted. "You girls run along and have fun at boob camp."
"Sady, do you have a way to contact Babs?" John asked.
"No, I traded her business card for a parking ticket," she replied.
In the background, Matt said in an undertone, "I keep telling you, don't ask."
John thought about it for a moment, then he said, "I'll get someone to set it up, and get back with you." He used his phone for a few minutes of texting, then set it aside while he ate. He asked about the events of the previous day. Matt poked him with another head shake, and Morrow said, "Never mind. I'll read the details in your report."
By noon Morrow had the women enrolled as instructors in Barbara-Jean's school. By supper they were at the hotel where she conducted her school,and checked into a suite.
"Dibs on the room overlooking the pool," Amanda said. She pulled back the curtain and admired the men from above. "Looks like another buffet, Sady. Like the ski lodge- mm-mm! I love buffets!" Sady grinned while Daria rolled her eyes and scouted which remaining room gave the best tactical advantage. Sady took the last bedroom.
"Free night, ladies," Sady told them. "We don't have to report to Babs until morning." Amanda ran to change for some pool side activity, Daria whipped out the latest Assassin's Monthly magazine, and Sady relaxed in the whirlpool.