Bailey closed her eyes. “Because I’m The Wraith,” she said quietly.
“No, you’re just Bailey,” Piper disagreed.
“I’m both,” she stated. “But I just want to be Bailey.”
Piper stared at her adoringly. “I love all of you.”
“That’s the only thing I can’t live without, Piper,” she said quietly.
“You’ll never have to try,” Piper said embracing her as tight as she could. “I promise you that.”
III
But I won’t cry for yesterday,
There’s an ordinary world somehow I have to find.
—Rhodes, Le Bon, Taylor, Cuccurullo
“Did you tell Martin we have company coming?” Piper asked while grating cheese at the kitchen table.
“I only saw him for a bit this morning, didn’t you tell him?” Bailey asked from across the room.
“I guess it’ll be a surprise then,” Piper said cheerily.
“I guess,” Bailey shrugged walking over to peek in the oven and looking up at the ringing of a cell phone. “That’s your phone.”
“Huh?” Piper said confusedly then looked at her purse that was still lying in front of the door. “Oh,” she rose hurriedly and ran over to get it.
“Hi, this is Piper,” she said brightly. “Oh, hey Nanny, can you hold on a sec?”
“I’ll be back in a bit,” she said with a look at Bailey who nodded and she took the phone down the hall to enter Bailey’s office.
“What’s up, Nanny?” she said seating herself at the desk.
“You tell me, I got your note,” Nanny said with a chuckle.
“You just get in?”
“Yeah, a little while ago,” Nancy said. “I have to leave again on Sunday,” she added regretfully.
“That stinks.”
“Yep, so tell me,” she asked playfully. “You guys shacking up?”
“Yeah,” Piper said with a little grin.
“Things okay between you two?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
“That sounds evasive,” Nancy pointed out.
“It is kinda,” Piper admitted. “But you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks to hear the whole story.”
“You know the whole story?”
“Yes.”
“And?” Nancy prompted.
“And you’ll have to give me a couple of weeks.”
“Hmmm,” Nancy purred. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Things really couldn’t be better between us,” Piper said. “But there’s an ongoing complication that should finish up shortly.”
“I see,” Nancy said. “I’ll look forward to hearing it then. Should I look for another place to hang my hat?”
“No, it’s your house too,” Piper said with a little scowl. “I’ll continue to pay my share.”
“Are you sure, Pippy?”
“Yeah, it’s not a problem, I don’t want you to leave,” Piper said. “I’d miss you too much.”
“I’d miss you too,” Nancy said. “Your mother called by the way.”
“Oh, I should give her a buzz,” Piper said. “Are you going home for Christmas this year?”
“Yep.”
“Great,” Piper said happily. “Mom would love to see you and there’s some people I’d like you to meet.”
“Really?” Nancy asked intrigued. “Who?”
“Just some guests that’ll be there for Christmas.”
“I’m not getting much out of you tonight,” Nancy said regretfully.
“It’s very complicated, Nanny,” Piper said. “I’ll explain everything as soon as I can.”
“You’d better.”
“I will,” Piper said. “When will you be back again?”
“Wednesday.”
“I’d like you to come over here for dinner, will you?” Piper asked hopefully.
“To the Princess’s lair?” Nancy asked feigning alarm. “I don’t know,” she teased.
“Be quiet,” Piper demanded playfully.
“Of course, just let me know when,” Nancy relented with a chuckle.
“Okay,” Piper said happily.
“Well, I thought I’d check up on you,” Nancy said. “Tell me not to worry so I can hop in the shower and hit the sack.”
“Don’t worry,” Piper said sincerely. “Talk to you soon?”
“Yep,” Nancy said. “You’ll need to tell me how things went over Thanksgiving too.”
“Alright,” Piper said happily. “Take care.”
“You too, see ya, Pippy.”
“Bye,” Piper said and waited until she heard the line disconnect before she hung up.
She spun a little in Bailey’s chair and with a happy sigh, she hopped up and padded back into the kitchen.
“That was, Nanny,” Piper said. “Can we have her over for dinner?”
“Sure,” Bailey said with a shrug and Piper narrowed her eyes.
“Are you okay? You look a little pale,” she asked in concern.
“Yeah,” Bailey said unconvincingly.
“What’s wrong?” Piper said worriedly, closing the distance and putting a hand to her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I’ve just been close to the oven.”
“Don’t give me that,” Piper chided as she pulled her over to the table and seated her.
“You’re running a fever, does your head hurt?”
“A little,” Bailey admitted reluctantly.
“Since when?”
“For about an hour now.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Piper asked gently.
“It’ll pass.”
“Bailey, I don’t want you to hurt. Do you want to go to the doctor?”
“No!” she said loudly in alarm.
Piper stared at her curiously for a moment. “Have you taken anything?”
“No,” she said quietly.
“Come on,” Piper said taking her hand and pulling her from the chair. “I want you to go lay down, where do you keep your medicine?”
“In the bathroom cabinet,” Bailey said softly as Piper led her down the hall.
“Okay,” Piper said. “Go get in bed,” she demanded when they entered the bedroom and watched in concern as Bailey lay down in all of her clothes and curled up on her side.
Piper hurriedly entered the bathroom and to her dismay only found a bottle of aspirin after rummaging through all the cabinets. She poured a glass of water and took it and the aspirin back into the bedroom, seating herself gingerly on the bed next to her lover.
“Sit up, sweetie,” Piper asked softly and handed Bailey the aspirin, which she swallowed dry before taking a drink of water.
“Turn off the light, please,” Bailey said weakly.
“Are you sure your okay, baby?” Piper asked fretfully.
“It’s a migraine,” Bailey said. “I get them sometimes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I didn’t want to spoil your evening,” Bailey said softly.
“You’re more important, goofy,” Piper chided. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, it’ll either go away soon or I’ll have it for hours,” Bailey said reaching into her pocket. “Here’s my cell phone, the key to the elevator and my entry card for the front door. The number to get in or out is 946372. When Josh calls, you’ll have to go to seventeen to get him.”
“I’ll just cancel,” Piper said taking her things and setting them on the bed beside her.
“Don’t, there’s nothing you can do for me, I need to try and sleep it off,” Bailey said softly.
“Bailey, I can stay here with you,” Piper said stroking her hair, noting sympathetically that her eyes were watering.
“It would be better if you didn’t,” Bailey whispered. “I get very short tempered. Please go and have a good time.”
“Are you sure?” Piper said uncertainly.
“Yes,” Bailey said.
“Alright, love,�
� Piper said reluctantly. “I’ll check on you from time to time.”
“Okay,” Bailey whispered..
“You call me if you need anything,” Piper said placing a gentle kiss on her cheek and collecting Bailey’s phone and keys.
Piper got up to leave but stopped at the door and looked at her for a moment before she sighed and headed back into the kitchen, catching Martin curiously peeking in the oven.
“Get out of there,” she scolded as she approached.
Martin chuckled and closed the oven door abruptly. “Busted,” he said pleasantly.
“Yep,” Piper said, shooing him out of the way and setting her stuff on the counter.
“Where’s Bailey?”
“She has a migraine,” Piper said. “It’ll be just me, you, and Josh I’m afraid.”
“Is she alright?”
“She say’s she is, but she’s pretty helpless right now.”
“That’s too bad,” he said disappointed. “Who’s Josh by the way?”
“A friend of hers,” Piper said. “Nice guy, don’t know where she met him, but he identified the people posing as employees downstairs.”
“Really?” Martin said taking a seat at the kitchen table. “What’s she going to do with them?”
“She said she’s going to put a hiring freeze into effect and fire them on Monday.”
“Really?” Martin said surprised. “I would’ve figured…” he stopped himself and looked sheepishly at Piper. “Sorry.”
“Me too,” Piper said quietly.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” he asked uncomfortably.
“Finish chopping up the stuff in front of you there,” she said with a smile.
“Will do,” he said, giving her a grin of his own, and frowned when he realized he would have to use his left hand. “Uhm, this might not turn out so pretty, I’m right handed.”
“Do your best,” Piper said with a chuckle.
———
“God, what a horrible loser,” Martin said amused several hours later.
“No shit,” Josh said shaking his head at a fuming Piper.
Piper crossed her arms over her chest and gave them the glare of death, which only served to elicit laughter from both of them at her expense.
She huffed and shot up from her chair. “I’m going to check on Bailey.”
“No need,” Bailey said emerging from the hallway.
“Are you feeling better?” Piper asked.
“A little,” Bailey shrugged. “Sorry I missed dinner.”
“There’s leftovers,” Piper said. “Want me to heat some up for you?”
“Yes, please,” Bailey said taking a seat.
Piper bent to kiss her on the cheek and rested her chin on her forehead. “You’re much cooler now,” she said with satisfaction. “But your hair is a mess and your eyes are all bloodshot.”
“Thanks,” Bailey said dryly and Piper smiled at her as she went about making her a plate.
“Sorry I missed out on Monopoly,” she said to Josh and Martin.
“That’s okay,” Martin said. “Although you missed seeing Piper throw a fit.”
“I did not,” Piper said indignantly.
“Yes, you did,” Josh and Martin said in unison and Bailey chuckled.
“No dessert for either of you,” Piper said, putting a plate in front of Bailey and sauntering off down the hall.
“I saw you come back across the street today,” Josh said. “I take it everything went well?”
“Yes, he’s dead,” Bailey said quietly.
“Was this the contractor you spoke of before you left today?” Martin asked and she nodded to the affirmative.
“I need to talk to both of you when Piper gets back,” Bailey said, taking a forkful of lasagna. “Things are going to wrap up quickly from this point.”
“Alright,” Josh said and Martin nodded.
“So who won Monopoly?” she asked.
“Martin did,” Josh said regretfully as Piper ambled back into view shooting Martin and Josh an ugly look as she pulled a chair behind Bailey’s and began to brush out her hair.
“What do you have to tell us?” Josh asked after a minute.
“I’ll be leaving Atlanta on Tuesday to wrap this up,” Bailey said. “I’ve made arrangements for both of you. I can discuss them privately or together, it’s up to you.”
Josh and Martin exchanged a look and they both shrugged indifferently.
“Where are you going?” Piper asked quietly. “Can I come with you?”
“Not for this,” Bailey said regretfully.
“Can we talk about it?”
“No, I have to take care of this alone,” Bailey said with a look over her shoulder at Piper who nodded reluctantly.
“Okay,” Piper said unhappily.
“Josh, I need you to find a safe place that could serve as a fire position, if needed, in sight of the building where the Organization has their operatives living. I’ll need to know immediately if they move in numbers.”
“Okay,” Josh said.
“Take your rifle,” Bailey said and handed him a key across the table.
“What’s this?” he asked, taking it from her hand.
“The agreed upon fee for your services. I’ve transferred all of Renfield’s holdings into Anderson’s accounts. I’ve also had the requested amount transferred into your former checking account to see to the welfare of your spouse. She already has access to the money,” Bailey said. “The key opens a locker in the Greyhound station at 232 Forsyth, you’ll find everything you need.”
“Thank you,” Josh said sincerely.
“No, thank you,” Bailey said. “You’ll need to hang out after I’ve left town until you get word from me.”
“Consider it done.”
“Your criminal record and your fingerprints will have to wait until I’ve come to settlement terms with the Organization, but I’ll see to it,” Bailey added and he nodded.
“Martin, that goes for you as well,” Bailey said. “If you were to appear in public, all operatives no doubt have orders to kill you on sight outside of my company. The day I leave, I’ve arranged a safe haven for you at the British Embassy in Washington; you’ll be traveling there on Tuesday. Your situation won’t be resolved until the final settlement, but I promise it will be. You’ll be under the care of Jeremy Watts and in the company of my family. I’ll send word or will come myself when everything is over.”
“Thank you, Bailey.”
“You’re very welcome, Martin,” Bailey said. “My family is in your debt.”
“What about me?” Piper asked. “What do I do until I see you again?”
“I’d like you to stay at the embassy as well,” Bailey said hesitantly.
“Why?” Piper asked becoming slightly agitated.
“Because they obviously realize by now that you’re very important to me,” Bailey said softly. “I can’t put you at risk.”
“Do you think they’ll try to hurt me?”
“These people are petty and vindictive,” Bailey explained. “I wouldn’t put it past them to hurt you to hurt me. I’d like you to do this for me. Things will go far smoother if I don’t have to worry about you and I know you’re safe.”
“Alright,” Piper agreed reluctantly. “What about the company?”
“Put Debra in charge until your return and I’ll inform the Board to keep it business as usual.”
“Okay,” Piper said reluctantly running Bailey’s hair through her hands thoughtfully.
“I won’t be leaving the building from now until Tuesday unless I have to,” Bailey said. “In the event of an emergency, Josh, I’ll need you on standby. Martin and Piper, you need to be ready to leave from the roof immediately.”
“What about you?” Piper asked worriedly.
“I’ll deal with the situation and meet up with you later.”
Piper grunted in irritation but remained silent.
“I’ve got to make a phone call
and I still have a bit of a headache, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to excuse myself for the rest of the evening,” Bailey said quietly rising from her seat. “I apologize for being poor company tonight, but I’m glad to have both of you in my home,” she added to Martin and Josh as she bent and kissed Piper gently on the cheek. “We’ll talk later,” she whispered in her ear before heading back down the hall.
Piper watched her go with a pained expression and let out a long sigh. “I’m worried about her.”
“She’ll be okay, Piper,” Martin said sympathetically.
“She’d better.”
“She has a lot of pressure on her.”
“I know,” Piper said sadly. “I don’t know how she bears it.”
“Can I ask a question?” Josh asked hesitantly. “I know she worked for the government but in what capacity?”
Martin looked at Piper who shrugged, still staring down the hallway after Bailey. “She was a hard target infiltrator.”
“What does that mean?” Josh asked curiously.
“It means that for almost fifteen years she was sent in to eliminate targets, often multiple targets, that offered her very low survivability odds,” Martin said. “She’s probably the most dangerous person on the planet.”
“She’s the sweetest, gentlest, smartest, and most incredible person I’ve ever known,” Piper said quietly. “And it’ll kill me if I lose her.”
“You wont, Piper,” Martin said gravely. “She doesn’t know how to lose.”
———
“Watts.”
“Good evening, Jeremy,” Bailey said into the speakerphone.
“Hello there,” Jeremy said pleasantly.
“I’ll be sending you Piper and one other on Thursday,” Bailey said. “Has it been cleared?”
“Yes, the Ambassador has no objections,” Jeremy said. “Things wrapping up?”
“Getting close to that time.”
“Very well. Is there anything I else I can do?”
“Yes,” Bailey said. “The man I’m sending you is Martin Satterfield.”
“Alright.”
“I’ve made arrangements for someone else to contact you if I don’t make it,” Bailey said.
“I hope I don’t get that call,” Jeremy said sincerely.
“Me too, but I have to prepare for the possibility.”
Engravings of Wraith Page 48