I left the conference room and went back to my office, putting my head down on my desk. Eddie came in a few minutes later and went behind me, rubbing my shoulders.
“Mmmm, don't stop.”
“You did real good babe, I'm proud of you.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Alex – my friend – called the local field office, and they are sending agents over. You need to be ready to justify why you think it's Alan.”
“It's obvious, isn't it?”
“I don't know babe, I don't know.” He patted my shoulders to indicate the massage was done, and went back around the desk.
I stretched, popping my spine where he relaxed the muscles. “How about we hop over to London and sleep for a few hours?”
Eddie laughed. “Tempting, but probably not a good idea. You be that rested after this much running around, they'll start to suspect you.”
Chapter Ten
“Ms. Kelly, where were you Friday night between one and three o'clock?”
Elizabethan London. “Um, at home with my husband.”
“And what were you doing there?”
I blushed. “Eddie was staying the night. Agent, do you really need me to answer that?”
Agent Simmons had the good grace to blush himself. "Just answer the question, ma'am. For the record." He tapped the microphone set up on the conference room table where they were meeting.
Seeing what my husband looks like in -- and out of – velvet hose. Okay, can't say that. Bluff it, Schroeder. Make him embarrassed instead of yourself.._ "Testing position 24. Or was it 42? I don't remember. We have a full book to get through."
His blush turned into flaming red. I was proud of myself for not blushing that much, but I was most definitely flushed from anger at having to answer the question in the first place.
“Do you have the ability to login remotely?”
I shook my head. “My home computer is a Mac. Eddie's to, for that matter. We have Windows servers.”
“There is software you can install to still be able to connect, you know.”
“Shh, don't tell Joseph. I like having an excuse not to work from home.” I smiled at the FBI agent. “Surely I'm not a suspect, right? I got everything back up this morning. In plenty of time before the press release was issued, in fact.”
“Just in time for you to play the hero, and also to hurt the forensic investigations.”
Holy crap, I am a suspect, I thought. “Why on earth would I want to do that?”
“Ms. Kelly, let me tell you what I think. I think you got tired of being overworked and under appreciated, and decided to play the hero. After all, you knew how to bring the company down. And since you had the online backup, you knew you could restore things in time.”
My eyes narrowed at him. “And I planned for Matt to come in early? How do you explain that? If I came in at my normal time, I'd still be restoring right now, instead of defending myself against your baseless accusations.”
The middle-aged agent waved the insult away. "We've looked in the logs. The activity came from your computer. Your IP. Care to explain that?"
"I was in bed with my husband," I repeated. "I've said that. I think we're done here. If you have any more questions for me, you can address them to my lawyer."
The agent finally released me when I refused to answer any more questions, and I went straight into Eddie's arms when I left the conference/interrogation room. "You're going to need to call your lawyer," I told him, my voice shaking as much as I was. "They think I did it."
"What? That's insane."
"Yeah, he didn't really like it when I said that, though."
"Oh, baby, you didn't," Eddie chuckled. "Please tell me you lawyered up before you dug yourself in too deeply."
"Yeah. I didn't say anything after that. It wouldn't have been pretty if I had." I squeezed him and ended the embrace, as tempting as it was to hold on and never let go.
I wandered over to the tech department, and poked my head in my door.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, you're not allowed in here," the technician working on my computer told me.
"That's fine. Can you do me a favor, though? Agent Simmons said the activity came from my IP. At the risk of telling you how to do your job, can you check my event log, and make sure the machine was even on at the time? And I'm sure you'll check the router logs to see what NIC address the activity was from, just to be safe."
"Schroeder, leave the nice man be," Joseph appeared at my elbow and motioned me to follow him.
"I didn't do it Joseph, you have to know that," I plead.
"Who would think that? It was Alan. The FBI called the night security guard, and he told them he let Alan in Friday night. He didn't know Alan didn't work here any more."
I stopped and stared at him. "It was Alan? Really?" I marched back to my office. "I'm not coming in -- don't worry. But if you open the second drawer on the right, there's a box of chocolates that I haven't tossed yet. Alan -- the suspect -- sent me those a few weeks ago. I think he poisoned them."
"What?" Agent Simmons pushed past me and took the box the technician removed from the desk. "Why do you think that?"
"They came with some roses; the card was on top of the box. They didn't come from Eddie, and there's pinpricks in the bottom of each. Alan's been harassing me since he got fired. It was a safe assumption that something was wrong with the candy. I never tossed them because I didn't know how to properly dispose of them; I didn't want someone to pull them out of the trash and eat them."
"And you didn't call the police?" Simmons examined them closely.
"It didn't seem that important at the time," I said lamely.
"Attempted murder not important?" He asked, lightly. "We'll take a look, but I can't promise anything."
"So what happens now? Can we get back to work?" I looked between Joseph and the FBI agent.
Simmons shook his head. "We'll need to confiscate the PC's. We'll lock out access to the servers and make a copy of the drives, so that things can stay up. We have some police officers going down to pick Alan up right now; if he confesses, it'll make things go much easier and quicker. It'll be a couple of days before I can give you an update."
"Can I go to New York? Spend some time with Eddie there?"
"Make sure we have your number, but yes. Just don't leave the country without asking first."
"Joseph?"
"Sure, you've earned it. Be back next Monday. Checks from the buyout will be cut on Thursday -- you just want yours direct deposited?"
I blinked. "Um, I guess so." The agent wandered off, and I dropped my voice. "Let me know what happens to Alan, will you? If they catch him, if he confesses?"
The CEO nodded soberly. "You should have told me about the chocolates. I think it's a good idea for you to go to New York, out of Alan's reach. Just in case."
I shivered, and went to find Eddie to take me home.
One nice thing about having money is that Eddie had no problems paying for a last minute airfare. While I knew my deposit later in the week was for a substantial sum, I still couldn't bring myself to do last minute prices. But on Eddie's dime, well, why not. Gets me out of Dodge, I thought.
Packing was rather quick -- I hadn't yet replaced the suitcases from the fire. I had my laptop bag, though, and tossed some essentials in there. While Eddie had bought some new clothes for himself, he ended up leaving them down here for future wearing. I made him grab our traveling bag, as I had room in there for another outfit. I considered tossing another in, but Eddie reminded me that I could go shopping in New York. That brightened my day considerably. Shopping in New York with no budget? Fun.
It was early evening by the time we arrived at Eddie's building, and we went right to the couch and collapsed on top of each other.
"I hate flying."
Eddie kissed the top of my head. "I'm starting to not be a fan of it, either."
I belatedly kicked my shoes off, and Eddie readjusted so that he was on the bottom and I laid on to
p of him, my legs between his. I felt his hands at my waistband. "Eddie, I'm too tired."
"I was just adjusting your shirt. You hate the air conditioner blowing on your bare skin, so I was making sure you had none exposed."
I tilted my head up at him and caught him in his lie. "Nice try." He chuckled, and took advantage of my waiting lips. Enjoying myself, I scootched up a few inches to line our heads up better.
"Mmm. I thought you were tired."
"I am. I'm sleep-kissing." We made out for a few minutes, then I flopped my head down on his shoulder.
"I don't want you to quit your job." "I want to quit." We blurted out at the same time.
I giggled. "You first."
"You did great today. You are really, really good at your job. And I don't want you leaving it. Not for me."
"And I don't want to do this anymore. The FBI agent was right -- I'm overworked and under appreciated. While I like what I do, I'm....well, I'm scared to work at the company any more. Alan's won. He's scared me off."
"Baby--"
"No, I'm serious. I don't know what he's going to do next, and I don't want to know. I can't take the chance that he doesn't get arrested for this. It's not worth it. Even if you weren't in the picture, the buyout money, plus the compensation from being underpaid, would be enough to keep me going for a while. A long while. Long enough to find a new job, in a new city."
He stroked my hair. "You want to move, too?"
I nodded. "There's nothing for me there. I moved to Dallas for a job, and the job was all that was keeping me in town. As long as you're okay with selling the townhome after having just bought it, yes, I'd rather move to New York." I paused. "I'm certainly not moving back in with my parents, which I'm sure is what they would prefer."
He shuddered for me. "Heavens, no. They'll be lucky if we spend a night under their roof again, much less have you live there."
I ran a finger along his scruff; he didn't have time to shave that morning, and he hadn't the day before, either. I idly wondered what he looked like in a beard. Or would it be too scratchy?
"Schroeder? What are you thinking?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing."
"Nothing?"
I bit my lip. "Would you mind if I didn't work for a while? I know I've had a ton of days off recently, but I need a vacation. I need to get everything under control again, and I don't know if I even can. If I tried working now--" I looked away. "I'd lose it, more than I have already."
Eddie rolled us over so he was on top and he could force me to look him in the eyes. "Sweetheart, you're fine. You haven't lost control. You can work tomorrow and I know you'll be fine. You can also choose to never work another day in your life, and you'll be fine."
"It's just..."
"What?"
"I don't know. Losing my apartment, this mess with Alan, quitting my job. Marrying you, traveling through time -- my God, no wonder I feel like I'm going crazy. I just...I need time to think."
"About us?" His face stiffened. I cupped his fuzzy cheek in one hand.
"Will you stop that? I'm here to stay. I'll be honest, it is still blowing my mind, but in a good way. If I stop to think about it, it does freak me out. I only met you a few weeks ago. It seems like a lifetime, though. If you'll still have me, I'm here.”
“I'm not going anywhere, babe.”
“Why me?” I whispered after a minute.
“No.” He laid a finger against my lips. “We're not going through that again. Not tonight. I don't have the energy for that. You're mine, and I love you. You're not going anywhere.”
“Except maybe to your bed?” My tear-lined eyes looked at him hopefully.
He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were tired?”
“Yeah. Um, yes.” I flopped an arm across my head dramatically. “I am so exhausted. I have no energy to unclothe myself. Where ever can I find a willing person to undress me?”
***
Eddie's father Phil picked us up at the Hartford airport. The men embraced, glad to see each other. Phil then took my hands and studied me.
“So you're Schroeder,” he said, smiling with a twinkle in his eye. I could see where Eddie got his. “We've heard so much about you.” He tugged at my hands and gave me a strong hug. Eddie also got his height and build from his father, the son being an inch or so taller. Phil hadn't kept in as good of shape, and was starting to put a few pounds on around his waist, but showed that Eddie had a great future in store for his body. Eddie must have gotten his hair color from his mother, as what was left of Phil's hair was dirty blond. “It's good to meet you,” Phil said, releasing me. Eddie took me from him, putting his arm around my shoulders.
“It's good to meet you too,” I said back, and found that I sincerely meant it. Phil had the same easygoing personality as Eddie, and I felt immediately at ease. “Thank you for having me.”
Eddie kissed my cheek. “Come on, let's go. It's an hour drive from here, and I'm getting hungry for Mom's cooking.”
“Anything's better than mine, huh? Don't answer that,” I said hurriedly, sliding into the backseat. Eddie chuckled and closed the door behind me and got into the passengers seat.
“Sure you don't want to drive?”
“Dad, it's your car, you drive.” It sounded like an old, but well loved, argument. I didn't mind riding, but I also wouldn't have minded driving – the luxury Jaguar was made for road trips like this, and would be a pleasure to drive. I rested my head back on the headrest and listened to Phil update Eddie on happenings in their small town.
“Sweetheart, we're here,” Eddie said softly. I sat up with a start, rubbing my neck to work out the kink in it. He was looking back from the front seat, trying not to laugh at me, and I saw that he inherited the crinkles around his eyes from his father, who was also trying not to chuckle at me. I glared at them suspiciously, then grabbed a small mirror from my purse and saw that the right side of my hair was sticking straight up. Ye gads.
A few minutes with my hair brush tamed the errant side, and I pretended that I didn't notice Phil slowing down on the last few streets before theirs, making sure I was presentable before pulling into their driveway.
“You go in and say hello to your mother – I'll bring in your bags,” Phil told Eddie, coming to a stop in front of the two car garage. I looked at the old farmhouse as I got out of the car. It was two stories, with extra height showing that it was an older house. A wraparound porch, whitewashed to contrast nicely with the yellow paint on the house, had a few steps leading up to it.
Eddie took the steps in one stride, and looked back at me. “Coming?”
I took the steps one at a time, my body stiff from the long plane ride and sleeping in the car. Eddie must have seen uncertainty on my face, because he smiled at me gently. “You'll like my mom. Just watch out for the sugar cookies.” He opened the screen door and entered the front hallway. “Mom! We're home!”
“Eddie! I thought I heard the car.” A tall, slender woman entered the foyer from a doorway on the left, wiping flour from her hands onto her apron. She gave him a big hug and a kiss, not minding that she got the white powder all over his black t-shirt. “And you must be Schroeder,” she said warmly. “I'd hug you, but I don't want to get flour all over you.”
“It'll wash out,” I told her, and moved forward hug her anyway. Family matters to them, I realized, and wanted to be a part of this close-knit community.
“You're just as pretty as Eddie said.” I blushed at the compliment, and busied myself with dusting off the flour. “Come into the kitchen – I need to pull the next batch of cookies out of the oven.”
“Mom, we're not seven. We don't need milk and cookies when we get home.” Eddie's actions belied his words as he followed her into the kitchen.
“Liar,” she said fondly, pouring two large glasses of milk.
I hopped up on one of the wooden stools next to the kitchen bar and helped myself to one of the still warm sugar cookies on a platter. I let out a little sigh of delight, and grabbe
d another one. “These are delicious.”
“Told you so.” Eddie stuffed one in his mouth.
“Not too many, you'll spoil your dinner,” Mom warned. Eddie ignored her and grabbed another.
I excused myself to find a restroom, and when I came back out I followed the sound of Eddie's voice to the front foyer.
“You can just leave the bags here for now, Dad. I'll take them up to our room later.”
“Oh no, I can take them up now. Doc says it's good exercise for my knee to do stairs.”
“Dad, I don't want you to need surgery again. I'll take them.”
“Eddie, can I speak with you?” I interrupted, and both turned in surprise. “Outside?”
He put his hand on my lower back and escorted me out onto the porch, and I whirled on him as soon as the door shut.
“We are not sharing a bed!”
“Schroeder, it's no big deal.”
“Yes, it is! I don't want your parents thinking we're having sex!”
“Well, we are,” he said with a sly grin. He put his arms around me in apology.
“Eddie, no. I'm liking your parents. I don't want them to think I'm corrupting their son.”
“Sweetheart, it's fine,” he repeated.
“No. I'll sleep in your brother's room.”
Eddie looked at me humorously. “They redid the room when he married Becca. It's now Mom's quilting room. You can sleep on the couch, but I'll warn you – it's not bad for napping, but not for sleeping. You can sleep down at Tony's, a quarter mile down the road. Or you can share my bed.”
Tony's house was sounding like a better and better option to me, and it must have shown on my face because Eddie finally caved.
“Look, it's no big deal. We're not going to be doing anything. You know that, I know that, and my parents know that. Mom's a light sleeper. You open a dresser drawer during the night, and she's there in the next heartbeat asking what you need.” He got a guilty look on his face. “It made it very uncomfortable during puberty. So will you believe me now? It's fine.”
I stuck out my lower lip and pouted. Eddie couldn't help himself any longer, and leaned down to take my lip in his. I kissed him back, finally sinking into his embrace. He moved a hand up from my back to knead the nape of my neck. Since it was still sore from sleeping in the car, his fingers felt so good, and I moaned into his mouth. He ground his groin against mine in response.
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