The next few days were spent with Angie tracking whatever information she could through the computer. She found out that Agent Sapien was born in Missouri and trained at the FBI's training center at Quantico, Virginia. He spent time with the Bureau's field office in Chicago, and then in Washington. His father was also an FBI agent. He was married although he had split with his wife 2 1/2 years ago. Hanson's file was pretty similar, except that after Quantico he spent several years in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He moved to Washington after marrying an Italian businessman's daughter and not long after he became partnered with Agent Sapien. Both were expert marksmen.
"Well so far nothing seems out of the ordinary," Angie declared as she rubbed her eyes as she sat in front of the computer. "Both of these guys seem like the straight and narrow types. Both had commendations up to yazoo, and Sapien even received a presidential citation for taking a bullet during a joint DEA and FBI raid on a drug smuggling operation four years ago."
Rollie drummed a pencil against his lips in thought. "Leo, is there anything else you can remember? Anything at all? Something they might have said or done, that doesn't seem important...."
Leo shook his head. "Nothing."
Angie sighed. "I could try following any money trails but that could take a while," she said as she rubbed her stiff neck.
Rollie went behind her and started massaging her neck. Angie's head went back and she smiled in appreciation.
"Mmm, that feels good," she cooed. Rollie leaned down and kissed her.
"Wait!"
They both jumped.
Leo interrupted slowly, as he was trying to remember something. "Can you track any traveling they did?"
"I don't know." Angie turned to face him. "Why?"
"Because they both took off for a couple of weeks at a time. They left the country, that much I know because I spotted Sapien's passport one time. He was very angry that I did but he tried not to show it."
"Ange, can you do it?" Rollie asked excitedly. This was the first real clue they had in days.
"I don't know. It could take some time," she sighed, realizing that this was going to be a long night. "If they traveled under their real names it's possible that I could trace them. But if they didn't—"
"I know you can do it, Ange." Rollie encouraged her.
Rollie and Leo went to the lounge to discuss other possibilities. Angie watched them go and rubbed her stiff neck again.
"Lovely!" Angie muttered under her breath as she spied them sitting in comfort on the couch and drinking beer. "What am I? Chopped liver?" Angie's eyes narrowed in Rollie's direction. "You are going to have to make this up to me, mister." She muttered again as she typed furiously away.
By 3:30 in the morning Angie was going cross-eyed. "Ugh! I can't do this anymore, Rollie!" She cried. "I'm not getting anywhere and I'm tired and I want to go to bed!" There was no response from Rollie. "Did you hear me?" Angie looked over at the lounge to see that Rollie had fallen asleep on the couch and Leo must have had the good sense to have gone to bed. "Great! Just great! I'm the only one slaving away here. Well, not anymore buster! I am going to bed. You can have the couch, mister!' Angie turned off her computer and stomped upstairs to bed.
Angie refused to get up when Rollie tried to wake her at 7:00 in the morning. She threw the pillow at him and then threw the clock radio too, when he persisted. She stayed in bed until 10:00. Rollie wasn't downstairs when she finally went down. Leo greeted her when she went into the lounge.
"Morning, Leo. Where's Rollie?"
"He went to breakfast with Lucinda. He tried to wake you—"
"Yes I know," she replied grumpily.
"Did you get anywhere on the travel records?"
"No." She sighed. "I have a few ideas. I need coffee first though. Maybe even a whole pot!" She yawned. She still hadn't got enough sleep.
"You're doing a great job, kid. If anyone can do it I know you can." Leo smiled. "I'm going to go back to my room and rest. I still haven't caught up on it yet. I'm also going to try to remember more, if I can."
"Thanks, Leo." Angie smiled at the genuine compliment Leo had paid her. "You go ahead and rest. I know it takes a long time for the body to catch up when it's been through an ordeal." Angie looked down and Leo knew what she was referring to thanks to Rollie. "You've been on the run for a long time. Get some sleep."
Angie was typing away at the computer when Rollie returned. She didn't even hear him come in. Rollie paused at the landing and watched her. Every once in a while Angie would stop typing and read what was going by very fast on the screen. He could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. She would pause, rub her eyes, or push the hair out of her eyes, or she would alternately lick her lips or bite them. Then she would start typing again.
Rollie came behind her and touched her shoulder. "Hey swee—"
"Geez! Don't do that!" Angie jumped in her seat. "You startled me!"
"Sorry. I thought you heard me come in. I missed you at breakky this morning. Lucinda says 'hi' and she wants you to call her." Rollie pulled a chair over to sit beside her. "How's it going?"
Angie gave him a look that would kill him if he weren't a friendly target. "It's frustrating the hell out of me. But I will get it." She promised with steely determination. "You were gone an awfully long time."
"I stopped to pick up a new radio. Seems someone thought the old one would look good impaled on my head." He gave her his own dirty look.
"I didn't hit you and I wasn't trying to hit you. I just didn't like the old radio, that's all." she smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, well, next time you want to redecorate do mind not throwing things at me?"
"That all depends."
"On what?"
"On whether or not you deserve it." She smiled.
"Ooh, you are a little brat, aren't you Ramirez!" He poked her in the ribs.
Angie jumped at his rib poke. "You would be too, if you only got to bed at 4:00 a.m."
"4:00 a.m.? Bloody hell, sweetie, there's no need for you to kill yourself over this. This could take weeks, you know?"
"I know but I want to get these guys. Besides, you and Leo were right there egging me on. It's not like I could quit with you two breathing down my neck." Angie tried to stifle a yawn.
"Why don't you take a nap? You're still pretty tired. Where's Leo?"
"He's resting. I think he's a bit malnourished and it's affected his stamina. He looked really wiped. But he also said he would try to remember more." Angie returned her attention to the computer. "As for me, I don't feel like taking a nap. I have work to do but I am definitely not working late tonight."
"Workaholic!"
"Takes one to know one." She smiled and then seductively licked her lips, which had the effect she was aiming for when Rollie's eyes rested on them. "What are you going to be doing?"
"Hmm? Oh! The cameras...yeah." His eyes still lingered on Angie's full, sensuous, lips. "I'm going to check out how the cameras at the front entrance are working. I may need you as a guinea pig to go to the front door as if you're delivering something, okay?"
"Okay, just say when." She patted his knee and dismissed him as she turned in her chair. "Best get to work then."
"Yeah, work." Rollie growled.
"Oh yeah, Rol, Li called whilst you were out. He's inviting us to dinner this weekend at his place."
"Sounds good, sweetie. It'll be nice to finally meet his wife and son."
"Yeah."
Leo was having a hard time remembering. Sometimes, he would wake up and feel as if he had dreamt some memories but then he would awaken and it would be gone. Angie said it was his body's way of dealing with the trauma and that the memories would return when he was ready. He realized out of all people she should know considering everything that Rollie had told him had happened to her.
Angie continued on her search. She was getting nowhere fast. It was giving her a headache and she was grateful for the chance to take a break to help Rollie with his camera project.
The camera worked perfectly and Angie looked on in pride as Rollie worked the program to get a 3D rendering of her head. He had a gift for such things. Rollie had got the timing down to 30 seconds from a minute but there were a few glitches that needed to be worked out.
They both took a break over dinner and Leo told them about his life in the sewers. He said it was an incredible network of interconnected tunnels and that quite a few homeless people used it. It was also filthy and disease ridden and he wouldn't want to live there.
Angie made a cup of tea and returned to her computer. Rollie and Leo talked for a while longer and Angie could hear them laughing in the lounge. Angie just shook her head and smiled to herself. Rollie had really missed his friend.
Three hours later Rollie came over to join her at her computer. "How's it going?" he asked.
"Don't ask." Angie yawned and stretched. "Just when I think I've got a lead I slam into a wall."
"Why don't you quit for the night, Ange?" Rollie suggested softly as he massaged Angie's neck.
"Ugh, I hate to. I feel as if I'm on the brink of something—"
"So, have a go in the morning when you're fresh." Rollie turned Angie's chair around. "C'mon, we both could use a good night's rest." Rollie's eyes twinkled.
Angie melted under his stare. Her arms went around his neck and she sat down in his lap. "I could use some rest, I guess," she said as she rested her head on his shoulder. She pulled away slightly and looked at him. He caught her eyes roaming his face. She smiled and bit her lip, still sometimes unable to believe that he loved her. Her fingers traced his lips, following the outline and going along the contour of his jaw line. His eyes crinkled when he smiled and that sent shivers down Angie's spine. Her fingers went up to trace the tiny lines around them as well.
"I love you Rollie," she said softly as her eyes remained fixated on his mouth. "Don't ever forget that."
Rollie raised her chin and stared into her eyes, a beautiful blue-gray that he could get lost in forever. "I won't forget it, angel," he said against her ear, earning a gasp from Angie. "Don't you ever forget it either."
The next day brought a visit from Francis who had a day off and wanted to check in on his pals. Leo had to stay in the storage room while Francis was there. He watched on the monitor as Francis and Rollie talked. Rollie was working on the virtual project for the suits in Osaka while Angie worked on continuing her search. She told Francis it was for a movie, though. Francis invited Angie and Rollie over for dinner sometime soon before he left.
Rollie and Angie accompanied Francis to the door. They waved from the door as he left. Angie stood in front of Rollie.
"That seems to be happening more and more," he said over her shoulder.
"What?" She looked back at him and then at Francis leaving in his car. She closed the door and backed into Rollie.
"Us getting invites to dinner."
"Well, we've never been a couple before."
Rollie's arms went around her waist. "That's right," he growled sexily into her ear. "This is beneficial in more than just the obvious ways."
"You're incorrigible." Angie elbowed his ribs. "I better get back to work," she sighed. "What are you doing today?"
"I am going underground, literally. Leo and I are going to go through some of the tunnels. He remembers coming out of one several months ago and stumbling upon Hanson and Sapien exiting a car and entering a heavily secured building. I'm hoping that going through the tunnels will jar his memory."
"Eww! Better you than me."
"Gee, thanks."
"Be careful, okay?"
"We will be," Rollie promised as he squeezed her tighter.
Angie continued working on the computer although she was having the same luck as earlier. Fed up, she decided to go out rollerblading hoping it would help clear her head.
Rollie and Leo went out the back entrance and into the alleyway. Rollie brought along his PDA and some flashlights as well. He was glad he wasn't afraid of rats because as far as he was concerned one was too many and there was definitely more than one down here.
"So this is the place you spent your misspent middle-age, huh Leo? I tell ya' it's gotta be uphill from here," Rollie joked as he took in the surroundings.
"Don't knock it, pal. It was my home away from home and it kept me out of sight which was the idea." Leo looked around as well. "Besides, it wasn't all bad. I met some pretty decent people down here."
"I'm sure you did," Rollie replied. He had no doubt that he had met some decent people because he knew that a person could be a real asshole and live in the most expensive places and drive the most expensive cars.
Rollie looked around at their dingy surroundings. It was dark, cold, and the sound of water dripping could be heard as echoes everywhere. You couldn't hear the street noises from up above. You could hear squeaks from the rats, and whispering sometimes in the dark. Leo said that it was most likely some of the homeless people that had found their way down here, or city workers. He also told him that he had once traveled from the alleyway near Rollie's place all the way to the Bronx. He explained to Rollie that he would sleep in the tunnels near Central Park, because it had the nicest view. It was hard in the winter; however, but it was hard for everyone down there and worse for the homeless on the street so he really had nothing to complain about.
They walked through the sludge for a long time. Rollie wondered how far they had gone. He had brought his PDA with him and he was marking all the turns they had taken since they left the loft.
"Leo? Do you have any clue where we are?" Rollie asked finally. "'Cause it's getting kind of woofy in here." He sniffed the air.
Leo looked around and then looked him straight in the eye. "Not a clue."
"Great." Rollie looked around. "Well, what do you say we head up top and take a peek?"
"A quick one. I don't want to be spotted." It wasn't like Leo to be so careful but he knew his health wasn't 100%. He wouldn't risk his exposure until he was ready.
"Of course we'll be careful. I just want to see exactly where we are and if you recognize anything."
Leo agreed and they went above ground. Leo looked around but nothing really rang his bell. Rollie suggested they head back and try looking around the old fashioned way: with the van. They headed back to the loft.
Angie was still out when they returned. Rollie took their clothes and put them in a trash bag deciding to incinerate them instead of washing them. They were just too woofy! Rollie and Leo headed out in the van.
Angie returned feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. She ran upstairs to take a shower and then went straight back to work on the computer. She was humming and singing along with music.
Rollie and Leo drove around for three hours, up one street and down the other. Both were getting quite disillusioned. Rollie suggested they give it a rest for today and they could start fresh tomorrow. Just as he agreed, Leo spotted the building he believed was the one he saw Hanson and Sapien enter. Rollie marked down the address in the PDA. They observed the buildings security from the van. Visitors had to be buzzed in. Tenants had key cards to access the elevators. There were two cameras covering the entrance.
"Who do you suppose he was visiting there?" Rollie asked Leo.
"That's the 64 thousand dollar question. He came here not long after Capriccio was arrested and after I escaped. He was here maybe for an hour before he left," Leo answered, as he stayed hidden in the back of the van.
"Well, at least we have the address. Hopefully, we can find out more back at the loft."
Loud music could be heard in the loft as Rollie and Leo returned to the loft.
"What the...." Rollie looked around for Angie, not spotting her right away.
"Is this what she does all the time when you're away?" Leo asked as he pointed towards Angie in the lounge.
Angie was bouncing and dancing and tidying up the lounge at the same time. She had the tea towel in her hand and she was swinging it around as she gyrated to Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life".
Rollie stood near Leo, his eyebrow raised. "I've always suspected...." His mouth was open in awe.
"She's got some pretty good moves." Leo smiled approvingly as he tilted his head this way and that to get a better view.
Rollie looked over at Leo, suddenly jealous but also feeling a little bit of the age difference between him and Angie. "Angie!" he called.
He was applauding Angie's dancing as he walked towards her, almost reaching her when Angie suddenly turned and stopped in mid-dance. Her mouth opened in embarrassment. Rollie raised his eyebrows at her. Angie went to speak but the music was too loud. Her face was red.
"Bluey, volume off," Rollie called. "Nice moves, Ange. So, is this how you work when I'm away?"
"Ha ha!" She narrowed her eyes at him, especially when she noticed that Leo had spotted her as well. "I was. I mean...I am working. The program is conducting a search even as we speak. I just didn't want to sit at the computer all day." Angie swatted him with the dishtowel. "How about you guys? Did you have any luck?"
"Some," Leo answered. "We found the building I saw the suits enter but still don't know who he was visiting."
"So what now?" Angie asked.
"Now, we see if you can do some magic on the internet and see if you can find out who the tenants are," Rollie suggested.
"Okay, but it will have to wait until my other search is over. Unless I can use your computer?"
"What's mine is yours," Rollie said with a wave of his hand as he pulled out his PDA and started mapping out the coordinates he had made down there. He figured you never know when they might come in handy.
Leo felt like a third wheel. There wasn't much he could do. At his insistence, Rollie set him up with a laptop and Bluey for company so that he could play a game of chess.
Twenty minutes later Angie told Rollie that she had no luck in finding out who the tenants living in the apartment building are. She did find out that they have a very good security system but she was also sure that it wasn't going to be a problem for them.
A little while later, Angie's program on her computer had a breakthrough and they had access to Sapien and Hanson's travel itinerary for the past year and a half. Rollie, Leo, and Angie had dinner and they went over some of the printouts. It was quite a lengthy list however, and Angie had some of it transferred to her and Rollie's laptops. Leo took one with him to his room so that he could go over it, while Rollie took the other laptop up to his and Angie's bedroom.
Rollie was reading the travel itinerary in bed, while Angie was on the floor doing yoga. Rollie peeked up from the laptop, smiled, and shook his head.
"Come to bed, Ange."
Angie's head peeked over the edge of the bed, while she extended a leg parallel to her head. "What? So I can do some more work? No thank you. I'm fine right here. I'm finally working out the kinks in my body. My neck is sooo stiff from all the tension."
"Is that what you're doing? You know, I can help you out there." He waggled his eyebrows at her eliciting from Angie a sound that was either a laugh or a groan. Or both.
"Yeah, right! I know what you have in mind," she said as she continued to do her yoga routine.
"I never heard you complain before," Rollie replied as he continued on the task at hand. Occasionally he would see a piece of Angie rise above the bed frame.
Angie finished her routine. She crawled onto the bed and straddled Rollie's outstretched legs. She smiled at Rollie as he tried not to notice her over the laptop and tried to concentrate on the work at hand. Gently, but firmly, she closed the laptop.
"I was reading—" Rollie started to protest.
"Enough work for tonight," she cooed as she placed the laptop on the night table.
"Now who's getting bossy?"
"Are you complaining?" Angie asked as she moved up towards Rollie's waist.
"I guess I better not," Rollie replied as his head went back and Angie's hands caressed his chest.
"Good man." Angie smiled as she rained kisses on his chest.
"We're going to break into the security system at the Carlton Arms." Rollie announced to Leo over breakfast the next morning. "Angie and I discussed it last night."
"We did?" Angie looked up from her fruit as Rollie shot her a look. "Oh yeah! That's right! We did." Angie confirmed finally. Rollie smiled at her. "And I totally agree with whatever Rollie is about to say. Totally."
"Why do I get the feeling I'm being frozen out of something?" Leo groaned as he glanced between the two of them.
"Leo, you're not. But people are after you and it's not to shake your hand, my friend. Believe me it's better if you stay in the van."
"Well, at least I get to do that!" Leo groaned again.
Angie had found out that the security system undergoes yearly inspections through the company's headquarters and they were about do for one. The timing couldn't be more perfect. Then, as part of their plan, Rollie and Angie then dressed rather expensively and both looked rather bookish and no-nonsense. Rollie and Angie entered the building as security inspectors. They carried briefcases and official identification from the security provider's headquarters in Los Angeles. Rollie had his hair tucked into a wig, which gave him a short hairdo. Angie wore a dark wig, which was tied into a bun at the back. Both wore dark sunglasses. Rollie's name was Mason Hughes. Angie's name was Drucilla Carr. They spoke in terse tones and with few words.
They flashed their badges at the security desk. It took a few moments but soon the security agent at the desk called his supervisor who confirmed that a surprise inspection was indeed underway and that it was normal, He told the security guard that he would be there in 30 to 40 minutes. In the meantime, he told the guard to cooperate with the inspectors and to show them whatever they needed.
Mason and Drucilla were shown to the main security area. They pulled out their laptops and some other equipment and started their inspections. While Rollie kept the guard busy with questions concerning previous lapses in security Angie tapped into the computers and downloaded files pertaining to security and tenant listings. Then, she uploaded a virus into the mainframe.
"We've got a problem here." Drucilla announced.
"What? No, that's impossible. Everything's been working fine," The guard protested.
"That's not what this says." Drucilla pointed to her computer screen. "This says we have a security breach on the 15th floor."
"Have you noticed any anomalies, electrical or otherwise, on the 15th?" Mason asked as he fingered his chin.
"None. No, I swear...although—"
"Yes. Go on." Rollie encouraged him. Truth was the power of suggestion could be very powerful.
"Six months ago there was a power surge on several floors, the 14th to 16th. The elevators were opening and shutting like crazy. The lights went on and off. Even the sprinkler system was set off. It caused a lot of water damage and new wiring had to be put in place. We never found out what caused the power surge."
"Why didn't you call us right away when this happened?" Mason demanded. "This could be indicative of more serious security flaws. We best check it out."
"You go ahead. I'll stay here and continue my computer diagnosis," Drucilla suggested. Angie's virus was supposed to show a computer glitch but since they really did find a glitch she didn't need it. However, she did need to stay behind and remove it.
"Okay, but I will have to have a guard in here with you." The guard told her. "Regulations," he explained.
Drucilla said she understood though her face was void of any emotion.
Mason and Drucilla finished their inspection just before the security chief arrived. They went over their suggestions for improvements and warned them that another unreported incident could involve fines or breach of contract litigation; all in all it could be messy for everyone involved. They told them they would be in touch with further recommendations soon.
"Smooth," Leo complimented the duo as they entered the van several blocks from the Carlton Arms. He had been listening to their entire conversation. They made their way back to the loft before they discussed what happened.
"Interesting wasn't it?" Angie replied as she took off her wig.
"Sure was. Somebody else broke into the place several months ago. Any idea who?" Rollie asked as he removed his own wig.
"Could be anybody," Leo answered.
"Well, whoever it was didn't want it to be obviously isolated around the 15th floor. That's why they affected to floors directly above and below the 15th floor."
"So it's safe to assume that whoever is involved with Sapien and Hanson lives on the 15th floor," Angie surmised. "Unless that building houses more notoriety than we can handle and I sincerely hope that's not the case," she added with a shudder. She was really hoping it was just some shy movie stars or politicians. "I'm going to check out the tenant list. At least we can narrow it down now."
"Yeah. Ange, before you do that can you squirt the security info to my computer?"
"Aye aye, sir!" Angie saluted Rollie.
Rollie came over and leaned into her. "Oh and by the way, you looked very sexy in that suit." He nuzzled her neck.
"Really? I found it terribly restricting." Angie smiled as she unbuttoned the first three buttons on her shirt, which had been buttoned all the way to the top. "Terribly restricting," she repeated.
"You could wear a potato sack and you would turn me on." He kissed the hollow of her neck that had been revealed by Angie's unbuttoning. Angie leaned back a little to accommodate him.
"Ahem. Can we get some work done here?" Leo interrupted.
"Sure Leo," Rollie groaned. "Remember where we were." He winked at Angie.
"I will," Angie promised.
Leo and Rollie went over the security of the building. It was going to be especially hard to get into the building with the new security measures that were put in place after the breach six months ago.
"All the tenants use a photo ID keycard entry now. So, that might be a problem if we don't know who is who in there. I could get access through the vents, but I would probably either have to enter through the roof, the basement, or the front door...." Rollie was thinking aloud as he looked at a print out of the building on the coffee table. Leo sat across from him.
"You'd have to override the security." Leo pointed out.
"Angie downloaded all the security information we need while I was busy checking things out on the 14th, 15th, and 16th floors. There is both a laundry and a garbage chute around the corner from the elevators on each floor."
"Tell me again why we have to get into the room on the 15th floor? I mean, what do you hope to find, Rollie?" Angie asked as she joined their conversation. She had in her hand a printout.
"I hope to find information tying whoever it is to Sapien and Hanson and hopefully find evidence linking this person to the Interpol agent and the arms thefts." He caught her look of concern. "What's this?" he asked as he pointed to the paper in Angie's hands.
"There are two tenants on each floor. Spacious digs!" she said with her best hoity-toity accent. "Anyway, one of the occupants on the 15th is...Anthony Delvecchio—"
"Son of a bitch!" Leo muttered.
"What? Do you know him?" Rollie asked.
"You haven't been paying attention to the papers have you? Anthony Delvecchio is the reputed head of a powerful Italian mob family—"
"I thought his name looked familiar," Angie interrupted.
"It all makes sense now." Leo fingered his chin. "His son, Salvatore, is the one who took over Capriccio's territory after he was arrested for my death. It's been rumored that he has been active in the United States these last few months but— damn it!!"
"Bloody great! They're the family that is trying to kill you." Rollie looked at Angie with worry in his eyes. If they could be recognized from their visit today, they would be added to the list too. "All right, Leo, I know you don't want to hear this but hear me out. This thing can get very dangerous very fast. Angie and I both feel that we need to trust other people with some of this information."
"I don't know. It could be too soon." Leo shook his head. It had been a long time since he trusted anyone. It was taking a lot for him to bring both Rollie and Angie in on this.
"We both feel that the more people know, the stronger we will be. I mean, if something happens to us...at least other people will have some idea why," Rollie continued.
"Who do you want to bring in?" Leo asked finally.
"Francis and Mira Sanchez." Rollie shared a look with Angie. "We both trust them with our lives, Leo."
Leo was quiet for some time. Rollie reached over and grabbed Angie's hand. She smiled apprehensively up at him. He knew she was trying not to show how scared she was. Leo watched the exchange between the two. They were risking so much to help him out. He had expected this of Rollie, who was always willing to stick his neck out for a friend in need. But Angie? That surprised him. He could see that while she had been always been a youthful and sweet young girl, she had grown into a very feisty young woman.
"All right," Leo spoke finally. "Call Francis and Mira. We all could use some protection."
Rollie said he would call them in the morning after Angie reminded him that they had a dinner engagement that night with Li Chen and his wife. Angie backed up the information on her and Rollie's computer while he went up to shower and change. She went up to take her shower when she was finished.
Rollie and Leo talked some more while she changed.
"I really think this is the right move Leo." Rollie reiterated as he and Leo enjoyed a beer.
"I'm not going to argue with you Rollie. I just think that it may be too soon. I understand your fears but we haven't really done anything that would bring Anthony Delvecchio's attention to us. That'll probably only happen when we search his apartment. I worry that by bringing in Mira and Francis too soon that information could find it's way back to others at Midtown South and from there go elsewhere. I trust your judgments but the smaller we keep this net the easier it is to control the flow of information." Leo turned as he heard Angie descending the stairs.
She looked beautiful in a dark, above the knee-length shift with a small flower print on it, and a simple silk sweater. Her hair was up, with soft tendrils framing her face and neck.
"Wow, Angie...you look great!" Leo complimented her.
Angie blushed. "Thank you, Leo." She smiled as her eyes locked on Rollie's. He smiled at her with his eyes and suddenly she was all shy. Her head went down to one side and she bit her lip. "Umm...we better go, Rollie."
"Yes, we better. Leo, help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. Remember to keep things quiet in here. No wild parties while we're gone and uh...don't wait up for us."
"Aww, no parties? Just make sure you have the lady home at a decent hour." Leo shook his finger at Rollie.
"Hey, come on it!" Li Chen beamed when he saw the couple. His face was lit up like the candles on a 100 year old's birthday cake. He took their jackets and showed them into the living area where his wife and son were.
They met his wife, Michelle and his son Jack. Michelle had dark, straight hair that she wore in a short page cut. She was beautiful with alabaster skin and dark eyes. She was almost regal in her appearance but she was warm and affectionate with Jack and Li and welcomed Rollie and Angie with great warmth. Jack too, had dark hair, which was thick like a mop on his head.
Li fixed them all something to drink before dinner. Angie and Michelle sat on the couch with Jack in Michelle's arms. Angie asked how if she coped with Li gone all that time.
"Not having him here wasn't so hard," Michelle sighed. "I got used to it. I coped. The hard part was not having him around for Jack. He missed out on so much and you can never get that back." She looked down at Jack in her arms. "The hardest part for me, was not having him there when he was born. I don't know if I will ever forget that. But...I look at the good work he's accomplished, shedding the light on humanities problems and I guess I understand why he did it."
Angie though about all that Rollie was willing to do for friends. It made her wonder what she would have to cope with.
"I don't think I would ever forgive Rollie if he wasn't with me while I gave birth. I would kill him." Angie smiled and Michelle laughed.
Angie cooed and shook Jack's stuffed toy in front of him as he smiled and made gibberish sounds. Michelle explained that he wasn't quite making sense yet, although he did say 'Momma' and 'num-num' to indicate he was hungry. He was just getting used to Daddy being around, but still hadn't formed the word yet.
"I have to check on dinner. Would you like to hold him while I do that?" Michelle asked.
Angie looked up at her nervously. "Are you sure? He won't cry or anything?" She asked this because her friend Becca had 1 year old who shrieked every time his mommy put him down. Angie gave up trying to hold him and her nerves were always jangled after a visit with them.
"Jack's a good boy. Besides, he has a thing for blondes." Michelle smiled as she placed Jack in Angie's lap.
"Oh," Angie exclaimed as she nervously watched Michelle disappear into the kitchen. "Well, it's just you and me kid," she said as Jack's hands went for her hair and then her earrings. "Why don't you and I get on the floor and play, huh? You like that?" she asked as she leaned her forehead against Jack's.
Jack giggled and repeated. "Pway!"
Li and Rollie were talking over by the bar. Li was trying, good-naturedly, to convince Rollie to let him write about his and Angie's adventures. He said that he could make a mint on them and they could share in the profits and they could all retire. He told him that he could use pseudonyms but Rollie said that no one would believe him.
Rollie glanced over and spotted Angie on the floor with Jack. She had her legs tucked under her and her hair was a bit messier, thanks to Jack, and she had removed her earrings. They were playing with the trucks and Jack was cooing and laughing. Rollie stood awestruck. He imagined Angie with their children and it filled him with a burning desire.
"So how long will it be before you're a dad, Rollie?" Li asked as he noticed Rollie's gaze.
Rollie attention came back to the present. He looked at Li and smiled. "Angie and I haven't really talked about it yet. I can't wait, though." He smiled. "Angie's going to be a wonderful mom." Rollie asked Li how it felt to be home.
"It feels great! I can't believe how much I have missed with Jack. He's just starting to get to know me. When I was first home he wouldn't let me hold him, he would shriek like there was no tomorrow! Thing's are strained with Michelle too." Li looked towards the kitchen where his wife had gone. "That's why I decided to stay and work on the book here. I am a stranger to my family...." Li looked down at his glass.
Rollie couldn't ever imagine walking away from Angie not to mention their children! Rollie walked over to join Angie and Jack, followed by Li.
"Having fun?" Rollie smiled.
Angie looked up at him, her face rosy as she beamed. "We are! Care to join us?"
Michelle returned from the kitchen to find Angie, Rollie, Li, and Jack, all on the floor playing with trucks, making 'vroom vroom' noises, and laughing.
"So now I have four kids instead of one!" Michelle laughed. She picked up Jack. "Dinner is almost ready and I have to put Jack down for bed. Angie? Would you care to join me?"
"Uh...sure," Angie replied slowly. Though her nervousness had dissipated, she had never put a child down to bed before. Rollie stood and helped her up. He wanted to kiss her so badly right now.
Angie held Jack and rocked him in her arms as Michelle readied his bed. She asked Angie to change Jack into his pajamas, which were laid out on the changing table. Angie's hands shook as she tried to fasten his snaps.
"He's a squirmy little bugger, ain't he?" Angie smiled.
"Yes, he is. I always have to fight with him to get him to sleep. He looks pretty tuckered out though thanks to all of you. I have a feeling he'll go right to sleep."
"It was nice. There!" Angie smiled as she lifted Jack up off the changing tables and into her arms. "All done!"
Michelle wound the mobile and dimmed the lights. She asked Angie if she would do the honor of laying Jack in his crib. Then, they slowly disappeared from Jack's view and closed the door behind them.
Michelle disappeared into the kitchen while Angie joined Rollie and Li in the living area. Rollie's arms encircled Angie's waist and he pulled her close.
"Dinner is ready," Michelle announced as the others followed her into the dining room.
Rollie pulled Angie back just before they entered the room. He pulled her to him and cradled her face in his hands and kissed her. Angie studied his face, wondering what brought that on. Rollie saw the question in her eyes and smiled.
"Just wanted you to know how special you are to me, that's all." He kissed her again quickly and then led the way into the dining area.
Over dinner they talked about Li's journalism career and his decision to stay in New York to work on the book on human smuggling. He said he couldn't bear to be away from his family anymore especially since Jack didn't really know him. Li explained that Jack was named after his favorite movie star, Jackie Chan. It was clear to Rollie and Angie that his absence and all that he had missed was a source of incredible pain to Li.
They also learned that Michelle runs a daycare center not far from where they live. Li lobbied for Rollie and Angie's business when they have kids. Angie and Rollie both looked at each other quickly, looking slightly uncomfortable since they hadn't really decided on when that would happen.
"You're kinda putting the cart before the horse there, Li." Rollie laughed.
"But we'll keep the daycare in mind when the time comes. Right Rollie?" Angie looked across at him, a mixture of fear, joy, and excitement, on her face.
"Right sweetie." He winked at her with the same mixture of emotions on his face.
The rest of dinner conversation bounced around several other topics, including Rollie and Angie's business, movies in general, politics, and whether or not there is life on other planets. Angie was pleased when Li said he believes in it, but not to let anyone know because his reputation as a journalist would be called into question. Michelle and Rollie rolled their eyes.
They were about to start on their dessert when the cell phone rang. Each of the occupants searched their belongings or their person to see if it was their phone ringing.
"It's mine." Rollie settled it. "Hello? Yeah, Francis what's up— what?" He looked over at Angie, whose eyebrow rose in question. "Okay. Yeah, thanks for calling. We're on our way." He hung up and looked at Angie but spoke to his hosts. "Sorry Li, Michelle. Angie, we have to go. The loft was broken into. The police are there now."
Angie was already standing up. Li and Michelle expressed their concern and hope that everything turned out all right. Li asked them to call if they needed anything.
As they were putting on their jackets Angie asked if Leo was okay. Rollie said he didn't know but since Francis didn't mention him, he assumed he was. And then he added, he better be.
Rollie and Angie returned to the loft to find the police vehicles still outside with their flashing lights on and Francis inside.
"Rollie!" Francis called to him as they entered. "We need you and Angie to check if there is anything missing. As you can see, they broke through the front door." He pointed to the damaged door. "But from what I can see, your computers, your cameras, and your VCR's are still here. But I can't tell if anything else is missing."
"Thanks Frank." Rollie surveyed the scene.
Angie went to her computer to see if it had been tampered with. "Somebody tried to break in," she announced. She then went to check Rollie's computer and found evidence of tampering there as well. She had installed a failsafe if her password and Rollie's weren't entered right away. They wouldn't be able to get in, but they wouldn't be able to shut down properly either, thus showing that it had been tampered with.
"I'm going to check the supply room, Ange." Rollie announced, increasingly worried about Leo.
"Do you need help Rollie?" Francis called.
"No. Thanks. It's just supplies for our work. It's easy enough to check."
Rollie came back up a few minutes later and announced that nothing was missing from the storage room. Angie sighed in relief.
"They took my laptop Rollie," Angie announced.
"Bloody great!"
"We'll need you to fill out forms itemizing all the items stolen or damaged. I have to tell you though, recovering laptops or computers is unlikely," Francis said. "I'm really sorry, you guys."
"Don't worry about it. At least nothing of any real value was taken and no one was hurt." Rollie fingered his chin.
"It's a good thing you had Bluey programmed to dial 911 and play that recorded message. I figure the thieves didn't really have time to steal anything thanks to Bluey."
"Thanks Francis," Rollie said as he pulled Angie close. She was looking forlornly at the loft. Their home, their haven, had been violated.
"Good night you two, and if you like I can arrange for a patrol car to pass by every couple of hours tonight, you know, for peace of mind?"
"I'd like that Francis," Angie replied before Rollie could say anything.
Francis left and Angie turned to Rollie. "Is Leo all right?"
"He's fine. He saw the whole thing on the surveillance feed—"
"Why didn't you tell Francis about the surveillance tapes?" Angie suddenly demanded.
"Because we don't know how many cops and other law officials are involved in this." Rollie defended his decision. "We don't know who to trust. The only ones I do are Francis, Mira and maybe the Captain. That's it! We can't let it get beyond here at this point and not until Leo's ready!"
"Rollie, damn it!" Angie walked away from him in frustration. "We had a really good time tonight. It was nice just being normal. I held a really sweet baby in my arms and it felt so good." Angie's voice shook with emotion. "And then, the next thing you know BAM! Trouble! Again! It makes me wonder, you know?" Angie turned and looked at him. "It makes me wonder what would have happened if we did have kids. What if we had one now? What if this happened while we were out and the babysitter was here? What would have happened then? God!"
"Angie—"
"No, Rollie. I don't want to hear it right now!" Angie turned and ran up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.
"Bloody hell!" Rollie muttered and was about to go up after her when Leo spoke from behind him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"You're not me, Leo." A touch of bitterness stung Rollie's reply.
"Angie's scared. She has every right to be and you and I have both seen her like this before. You just need to let her calm down a little." Leo took a beer out of the fridge and offered one to Rollie. "You said you both knew of the danger involved. If it's too much...maybe I should get my meager belongings and leave you both—"
"No, Leo!" Rollie shook his head. "Angie knows the danger...." Rollie thoughts trailed off and he looked up at their bedroom. "Why don't we review the tapes?" he suggested, changing the subject.
"No need. I saw it all happen. It was Sapien and Hanson."
"The suits? They know you're here?"
"No. I don't think so. I think they suspect I've been in contact with you. They were looking for information. They took one of the laptops—"
"I know. Angie told me."
"I think they were trying to figure out what we know."
"Yeah, but they tipped their hand. We know that they know that we know. You know?"
"Rollie." Leo groaned and shook his head because Rollie was giving him a headache. "So what's our next move?"
"Dunno, yet. First, I have to fix things with Angie. Beyond that...my mind is jelly right now," he said as he looked up at his bedroom.
"I think you let her stew long enough," Leo said as he squeezed Rollie's shoulder.
Rollie looked over at him with uncertainty in his eyes. He wasn't sure what kind of mood Angie was in right now. "I better try to secure the door before I go up," he mentioned as a stalling tactic.
"Chicken."
"Damn straight."