"Are you okay? Does it hurt badly?"
Lee frowned as she noticed for the first time that the side of Marika's temple was streaked with blood. "Hey! Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Marika shook her head slightly and, tearing her eyes from Rhi, turned to Lee. "No, it's all right. I have a bad headache, but he didn't hit me that hard. I just want to go home."
Shaking her head, Lee demurred. "Not home, Rika. You two are staying with us tonight, where I can keep an eye on you. We'll figure things out tomorrow."
Rhi reached back and gripped Lee's knee. "I don't know how you did it, Madam Dragonslayer, but I'll never forget what I owe you." Her words were fervent, and Marika nodded her agreement.
"We'd have been dead without you, Lee. Cass told him..."
"So it was Cass!" Lee leaned forward in excitement. "Then we can nail the bitch."
Wearily, Marika leaned back in her seat. "We can try, but she's very well-connected, Lee, and it'll only be our word against hers. How much you want to bet that she's already set up a rock solid alibi?"
Rhi disengaged the emergency brake and put the car in gear, executing a U-turn to get back to the main street. Lee turned Marika's words over in her mind as they headed for her house. She hated to think that Cass might get away with it, but she had to admit that Marika was probably right.
Taking out her phone again, Lee hit the speed dial for home. When Dana's worried voice answered, she said, "They're okay, love. Everyone's okay."
"Thank God!" Dana breathed in relief.
"I'm bringing them home, and hon, Rika looks like she's got a nasty cut on her head."
"I'll be ready," Dana assured her in a no-nonsense voice. "And I'll get the guest room made up, too."
"Thanks. Oh, and Dana, could you take your car out of the garage and leave the door open. I want Rika's car off the street and hidden from view."
"Will do. Are you on your way now?"
"Yeah, should be there in about fifteen minutes." Lee was about to say goodbye when something else occurred to her. "Hon, can you find Marc Manion's home number in my address book? And would you mind giving David a call and letting him know that everything is all right?"
Once Dana had retrieved the number for her, she closed the connection and punched in the new number. She hesitated for a moment before pressing send, aware of the lateness of the hour, but she knew the whole matter would have to be turned over to the police, and she preferred having her high-ranking friend in on it from the beginning.
When the phone was answered, Lee said apologetically, "Andrea? It's Lee Glenn. I'm really sorry to call so late, but I was wondering if I could speak to Marc?"
"Lee! Well, for heaven's sake! Long time, no see."
Lee was reassured that Marc's wife didn't sound irritated or even as if she'd been sleeping. Her ex-commander came on the line almost immediately and without wasting time asked, "Lee? What's going on? I was going to call you tomorrow, but did you hear already?"
"Um, hear? About what?" Lee asked in puzzlement.
"About Pike and Eddie King, of course. I only just heard as I was leaving work, and we went out to celebrate our anniversary tonight. Just got back as a matter of fact, so I didn't get a chance to call you."
Feeling the familiar tingle that told her she was closing in on her quarry, Lee quickly asked, "Did they find them?"
Marc snorted. "You could say that. The idiots got picked up for shoplifting in Edmonton, and the arresting officer noticed the flag I put on them. They're in custody up there now, and they'll be transferred back to Calgary in the morning."
"That's great news, Cap'n!" Lee exulted, then she sobered. "But that's not why I called you." She laid out the evening's events in detail, hearing his slight gasp when she told him of Sandra DeAndre's involvement. When she finished, there was a long moment of silence.
"Lee, it's time to pull in the bigger guns. I talked to my friend in the Major Crimes Unit after you left this afternoon, and he was very interested in what you had to say. Seems they'd just stumbled on a link between Gao and a major snakehead organization running out of Vancouver, one that they've been trying to get inside for a long time. He wanted me to set up a meeting with you next week to compare notes, but I think under the circumstances we should meet tomorrow before the King boys arrive back."
"Sounds good to me," Lee agreed, her mind gleefully anticipating taking Marika's nemesis down. "Look, I know you'll need statements from my friends, but they're pretty shaken up right now. Can it wait until the morning?"
"You know the best time to get statements is while events are fresh, Lee," Marc reminded her. Then he sighed. "Okay, tell you what I'll do. It's not like you haven't taken a statement or two in your time. You do it tonight, and I'll let them slide until the morning for the official ones. I'll also see to having a warrant issued for Gao's arrest, though I'm sure he's long gone by now."
"Thanks, Cap'n. I sure appreciate it, and I'll take care of the statements."
They made arrangements to meet in his office in the morning and said goodnight. Lee hung up just as they drove up to her home. Seeing the garage door open, she directed Rhi inside, smiling as she saw Dana come out to meet them. The women were just getting out of the car when David's ancient Volvo pulled up behind them.
They all came together in mad crush of hugs and questions and reassurances, until Dana took over and ordered everyone into the kitchen where she'd put on a pot of fresh coffee. Taking Marika's arm, the nurse briskly directed her to the bathroom, and they returned a few minutes later with the lawyer sporting a clean dressing on her temple.
Once they were all settled around the table, Lee held up her hand. "Look, everyone, I know you all want to find out what's been going on and so do I, but I promised Marc I'd take informal statements tonight so that you don't have to go in to the station until tomorrow, or at least later today. So why don't I take notes while you tell us everything that happened."
Marika and Rhi nodded, and Lee grabbed a pen and legal pad from the drawer by the phone. She carefully walked the women through the night's events, beginning with their departure from David's place. She frowned when Rhi confessed that she'd forgotten to lock the Lexus and set the car alarm, but then took pity on the young woman who'd so obviously been feeling horribly guilty about it herself.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Lady Mouse. I don't doubt he'd have gotten into it one way or another. All that matters is that you two are okay, got it?"
Rhi nodded, but still hung her head until Marika took her hand and squeezed it. Lee suppressed a smile at the grateful look that got the lawyer, and she continued to note all the details down, slowly but thoroughly.
David and Dana hung on every word, gasping when Marika told of Rhi's kick that had sent Cass sprawling. Lee smiled broadly, remembering when she'd first nicknamed the small woman and thinking she should've called her Mighty Mouse instead.
The big woman was livid when she heard about Cass' proposed deal, but was greatly reassured when Rhi broke into the lawyer's narrative to boast about how Marika had turned Cass down, even though it meant her life too. Lee found further reassurance in the way the two women looked at each other, hungrily drinking in the other's features and exchanging loving glances as they reminded each other of small details.
Cass didn't stand a chance against what they're feeling for each other. Lee's smug thought was echoed in the expressions on David and Dana's faces. They all had the exhilarated look of emerging victorious from an unexpected battle, and Lee doubted that any of them would sleep easily tonight. Except maybe those two. Seeing her friends' growing look of exhaustion, Lee quickly wrapped up the statements and had both of them sign and date them. She added her signature as the recording officer and set the tablet aside.
"What now?" Rhi's simple question was delivered in a fatigued voice, and before Lee could answer, Dana broke in.
"Now you two are going to march yourselves downstairs and go to bed. The guest room is made up and ready, and I don't
want to see hide nor hair of you until breakfast time."
Marika smiled gratefully at the nurse. "Thanks, Dana." She held a hand out to Rhi, who took it and quietly followed the lawyer to the stairs.
Lee, Dana and David silently watched them go, and then the priest asked seriously, "What does happen now, Lee?"
Looking at her companions, Lee shook her head somberly. "Now we have to protect them until Cass' whole house of cards crumples around her. I don't know how badly I hurt Gao, but I imagine he's heading for the hills as fast as he can go right now. What bothers me is the way he acted towards Cass. From what Rhi and Rika said, he was scared spitless of her, which means there may be a whole lot more to Mrs. DeAndre than just a secret identity. I mean, I know I always said Cass was a psycho, but this was way over the top, even for her. I get the feeling there's a whole lot we don't know yet, and until we do, I don't think Rika and Rhi are safe."
"Can we protect them here?" Dana asked, her brow furrowed with worry. "I can have Danny stay with his father for another week or so if necessary."
Lee nodded slowly. "That might not be a bad idea until this is all settled. I was over there when Marika's place was bugged, and it wouldn't be difficult to figure out who I am or where we live. I want you taking extra precautions too, Dana. In fact, I'd rather you went and stayed with your sister until this is over."
"No. If you're here, I'm here."
Lee shook her head in exasperation. It would have surprised her if Dana had agreed to go away, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to argue the issue. She was about to debate with her stubborn partner when David broke in.
"If they can connect them to this house, then maybe we'd better get Rhi and Marika somewhere else," the priest suggested.
"Agreed," Lee said, distracted from Dana's obstreperousness. "I'm not sure where. Maybe get them to stay in a hotel or something."
"If I could make a suggestion? An old friend of mine owns a cabin at Shuswap Lakes in B.C. I know he wouldn't mind loaning it to them as long as no one else is in it at the moment. I can call him first thing in the morning."
"Good idea, David," Lee approved. "That would get them well out of the city and safely away. I don't think they'll have to be gone long. I have the feeling that everything has already started to crumble under Cass' feet, and it shouldn't take long now. At the very least, once she's flushed out into the open, she won't dare take any action against them."
A thought occurred to her and she added, "I don't want them taking the Lexus in case someone is keeping an eye out for it." When David started to speak, she shook her head with a laugh. "No, Padre. I'm not sure that old Volvo would even make the drive. We're talking five hours through the mountains, and the last thing they need is to break down en route."
The priest looked vaguely insulted until Dana patted him on the arm. "It was a very nice offer, David, but they'd be better off taking my car."
Lee shook her head. "Thanks, hon, but I don't want anything linking them back to us. Maybe a rental or something. We'll figure something out."
They brainstormed for another few minutes, and then David drained his coffee and stood up. "I'd better get going and let you two get some sleep. I'll call you in the morning as soon as I talk to my friend."
Lee and Dana walked the priest to the door and bid him goodnight. When the door closed behind him, they looked at each other and grinned ruefully.
"I have to say, love...life is never dull around you," Dana teased, then she added affectionately, "So, my hero...are you ready for bed?"
"Aw geez, I'm no hero," Lee protested as she opened the closet to set their alarm system and wrapped an arm around her partner.
They walked down the hall to their bedroom, and Dana patted Lee's belly. "You'll always be my hero, honey, and I'm sure that Rhi and Rika would agree wholeheartedly."
"Mmm," Lee murmured noncommittally. Then with a comical leer, she asked, "So, do you think they're doing it?"
"Lee!" Dana laughed. "You are so bad."
"Well, I didn't see them protesting about sharing a bed," Lee defended herself. "Besides, did you see the way they were looking at each other?"
"Yes, I did, but then they'd just survived a pretty scary situation. It could just have been survivor relief."
"Nuh uh," Lee disagreed as she stepped aside to let Dana precede her into their bedroom. "Those two are crazy about each other."
The door closed on their amiable bickering as one floor below the subjects of their conjecture were getting ready for bed.
Marika had laughed out loud at the sight of Rhi draped in one of Lee's old t-shirts, but the small woman had snickered right back as the lawyer's makeshift nightshirt engulfed her slender frame. Turning out the light, they slid under the bedding, still chuckling at the discrepancy between Lee's shirts and their bodies.
Settling down, they faced each other only inches apart, their faces dimly illuminated by the light from the small window.
"Are you all right?" Marika asked softly, lightly pushing Rhi's hair back off her forehead.
"Considering that it wasn't that long ago that I thought I'd be going to sleep permanently tonight, I'm doing pretty well," Rhi answered as she caught and held the lawyer's graceful hand.
They regarded each other quietly, the awareness of their narrow escape still thrumming just below the surface and keeping sleep at bay. Finally Rhi confessed, "I was scared."
Even in the darkness she could see Marika's brow lift, and she smiled at the familiar sight.
"Perfectly understandable, Rhi. She's a very dangerous woman, and we were in an extremely tight spot. If Lee hadn't found us..."
Rhi shook her head. "No. I was scared that you were going to agree to her terms, hoping it would save me."
It was Marika's turn to shake her head. "I knew she was lying. I knew she wouldn't let you live."
"But you could've." The words were quiet, but laced with emotion. "I would've understood, you know."
The lawyer's voice was hurt. "Do you really think I'd buy my life at the price of yours?"
"No, I knew you wouldn't. And I don't know what I was more afraid of...that you'd die, or that you'd end up in her clutches."
"There was never any question, Rhi. I wouldn't go back to her at any price."
Marika spoke with unshakable certainty, and Rhi couldn't suppress a brilliant smile as she said simply, "I'm glad."
The blonde returned the smile and then opened her arms. Without hesitation, Rhi snuggled into them, wrapping her small body tightly around Marika's slender frame as long arms closed fiercely around her. Moulded together, they held each other in a desperate embrace, seeking to erase the memory of the night's terror in the warmth of each other's bodies.
Chapter Twenty-five
LEE SET THE small suitcases down and tapped lightly on the guest room door. Waiting a moment, but hearing nothing, she eased the door opened and poked her head inside. A broad grin broke out at the sight that greeted her. Marika was curled tightly around Rhi's smaller body as the women spooned, still deeply asleep.
Moving quietly, Lee crossed the room and squatted at the bedside. "Hey," she called softly, and watched as Marika's eyes fluttered open.
"Hey, yourself," came the sleepy rejoinder. "I trust you have a good reason for waking us at the crack of dawn.
Lee chuckled. "It's past ten, Rika. Dawn was hours ago, and I'm afraid I can't let you sleep any longer."
"Why not?" Rhi's eyes opened too, and she snuggled back into the arms that still held her. "It's Saturday, isn't it?"
Regarding her affectionately, Lee smiled. "Yes, it is. But we've got a lot to take care of, and then you two are leaving town for a bit."
"We are?" Marika blinked at her friend. "Where are we going?"
"I'll explain it all when you come upstairs. Dana went over to your place and packed you both some clothes. Oh, and she brought Spooky back. He's going to be staying with us while you're gone." She stood and retrieved the bags she'd left outside the door, setting th
em by the bed. "Don't waste any time, ladies. We're expected at the police station by noon."
Lee left, closing the door behind her. Reluctantly, Rhi moved from her warm nest, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed and sitting up. She stared blearily at the suitcases, wanting nothing more than to crawl back under the covers and into Marika's arms. The touch of a warm hand gently rubbing her back eased the frown that had creased her youthful features.
Looking back over her shoulder, Rhi smiled into the eyes that regarded her so lovingly. "How're you feeling?"
Marika shrugged minutely. "Not bad. What about you?"
"I'm fine, but then I'm not one the one who had a gun slammed against my head."
"No, but you were the one whose life was threatened." Marika's concern was clearly evident in her voice.
Rhi half turned, folding one leg on the bed. Reaching out, she softly caressed Marika's face. Gray eyes closed momentarily in pleasure as she murmured, "Both our lives were threatened, Rika."
The lawyer's right hand sought out the one stroking her face, and they intertwined their fingers tightly. Both women were silent for a long moment, their eyes meeting in tacit communion. Rhi was acutely aware that their shared ordeal seemed to have removed any final barriers to their hearts' urgings. She waited breathlessly for Marika's next move, desperately wanting confirmation that her friend's feelings matched her own.
The air between them was thickly charged as Marika slid one hand slowly up Rhi's arm, giving her ample opportunity to draw back. When the smaller woman made no move to pull away, the lawyer tangled her fingers in the thick, short hair at the nape of Rhi's neck, gently pulling her forward.
Rhi willingly lowered her head as Marika arched to meet her. She felt her heart pounding furiously as soft lips tentatively brushed over hers. A low moan rose in her throat, as the other woman's lips became more demanding, a tongue delicately begging for the entry willingly granted.
Lost in each other, the women started when a loud knock came at the door and Dana's impatient voice sounded.
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