Rollie reached out and gently stilled her hand and turned it to show the ring. "Angie? You're.....you're engaged?"
Angie brought her hand to her face in an effort to stop the tears that seemed intent on coming. Why? Why am I crying? She asked herself. Then she saw Rollie's stunned face staring back at her. She wished she knew what he was thinking.
"Paul asked me last night," she looked at Rollie trying to gauge his reaction, "I didn't.....I couldn't give him an answer right away. I told him I needed to think about it. He asked me to wear the ring, to get used to it. I just seems so sudden, don't you think?" she asked, hoping beyond hope that Rollie would say the words she longed to hear.
"I.....I....." Rollie stammered. Try as he might, he couldn't say anything more. No words would come. All he could think of was that he was losing Angie.
"Rollie?" Angie asked softly, in a voice that made her seem so small, almost pleading, "What should I do?"
Rollie shook his head. "Angie.....Angie, I can't answer that," finally he looked her in the eyes and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Angie, what do you want?"
Angie looked up at Rollie for what seemed an eternity. She searched for some sign from Rollie that would tell her what to do. Finally, she answered "I want to be happy, Rollie. I want to be with the man I love more than my own life."
Angie's words crushed Rollie. She really loves Paul. Rollie straightened his shoulders and smiled down at Angie. "Then you already know the answer, love," then he pulled Angie to him and crushed her in a deep hug. Angie held Rollie tight; her face nestled on his chest. "I hope you both will be very happy," Rollie said. Then both Angie and Rollie felt the tears fall.
They stood that way for a while, both of them finding comfort in each other's arms. Rollie was trying to push down the feelings that were stirring within him. He swallowed hard as the smell of Angie's hair filled his nostrils and the tendrils brushed against his chin. Mira had asked him not so long ago, if he loved Angie enough to let her go. He knew now that he did. Rollie was in love with Angie, and now he was going to have to giver her up. Not that she was ever really his, he realized. They never got to have the conversation he had wanted, maybe if they had.....but it was too late now. Angie is going to marry Paul Richter. The thought sobered him. She would be his wife, his lover, if she wasn't already, and they would one day have children. The picture that formed in his head made Rollie tense up.
Angie held Rollie tightly around the waist. It felt so good to be in his arms, to hear his heartbeat. It was like a drumbeat, tribal almost, stirring passions within her. Angie stirred in Rollie's arms. Whoa! Whoa, girl! Put the brakes on! You just decided to marry Paul. It's time to stop letting Rollie get to you that way. It's time to move on. Angie pulled away from Rollie, and the two stood there briefly staring at each other.
Just then Bluey started barking, and they pulled away from each other. Rollie still had his arm around Angie's waist. Angie's hand rested on Rollie's waist as well.
"Bluey, on screen," Rollie commanded the robotic dog to show the front entrance on screen, the signal of which was patched into the small monitor that rested on the kitchen counter.
Angie and Rollie saw Francis and Mira wave to them. Mira looked impatient. Rollie pulled away from Angie and went towards the entrance to let them in. Angie said she was going to go upstairs to splash some water on her face. Rollie rubbed his hands over his own face to clear away any remaining wetness, and rubbed his hands through his hair mussing it in the process.
"Francis.....Mira, it's been awhile," Rollie greeted them.
"Well.....we've been busy catching bad guys," Mira smiled.
"That's what I like to hear!" Rollie laughed.
"How are guys doing?" Francis asked. Rollie and Angie spent some time with Francis and his family at Christmas, and with Mira as well, but hadn't seen too much of them since then due to their film work.
"C'mon Francis, you two....."Rollie pointed between Francis and Mira, "didn't come here just to check up on us. What's up?"
Angie came down the stairs "I hope you two aren't about to drag Rollie off on another case," she said only half-jokingly.
"Actually, this concerns both of you," Mira answered.
Rollie and Angie exchanged glances. "This sounds serious Mira."
Mira's jaw stiffened. "It is serious. A friend of mine at the FBI called me last night with news.'
Rollie moved close to Angie. He now stood behind her.
"Victor Loubar was spotted in East Germany consorting with members of a known terrorist group," Mira informed them.
Angie's jaw dropped. She backed up slightly, bumping into Rollie, who placed his hands on her shoulders. He could feel her shaking. Rollie realized that no matter how far she had come in dealing with her rape, the mere mention of Loubar's name could always take her back there.
"I knew it!" Angie declared, "I knew that bastard was alive!" she was fighting back tears of rage.
"It's not exactly news that Loubar survived the shooting, Mira. No body was ever found. But how in the bloody hell did he manage to get out of the States?" Rollie asked.
"Rollie, God knows! This guy is slippery," Francis offered. "He must have friends in high places too. All we know for sure is that his recent activity took place in East Germany....."
"And that one of the persons he met with has extensive knowledge of bio-chemical agents...'Mira continued.
"Which means that he's planning something. Something to do with chemicals or bio-toxins....." Rollie surmised.
"So what does that mean?" Angie demanded, "Does it mean that he's coming back to the States? Or does it mean that he's going to stay in Europe because it's safer for him right now? It seems to me that he can come and go as he pleases! What is he up to? Do you know? Does anyone? Tell me!" Angie yelled.
Most of all Angie wanted to know how much danger Rollie was in. She wasn't even thinking of herself, though the anger she was experiencing betrayed her own fear.
Mira went over to Angie and touched her arm gently. "The agents in Germany are tracking Loubar and his friends. If he makes any move to come back to the States, we'll know about it and guards will be put on you and Rollie right away. In the meantime, they are trying to get information on exactly what Loubar and his associates are up to."
Angie wrapped her arms about her and walked away from the others. She stared out the window, not hearing any of the continuing conversation. Her mind went back to that night......
Tiny tremors shook Angie's body involuntarily. She had given herself to a man she thought was Rollie, the man she loved more than anything in the world but was afraid to admit it. Loubar took from her something beautiful and precious, something she dreamed she could give to Rollie. But he took it from her and made it ugly. And now she and Rollie would never be the same. Angie felt nauseous as she remembered that night. She thought she had put it in the past, where it couldn't hurt her but she knew now that as long as Loubar was a threat...... she and Rollie would never be safe. The question was; how were they going to get through it? Would they even be able to?
"So what now?" Rollie asked. "We just wait?"
Mira shook her head. "I know it's not your preferred method of handling things Rollie, but a lot of law enforcement agencies want Loubar, and not just in the States. Interpol is involved, so is Scotland Yard, CSIS in Canada. He's not going to get away this time Rollie.'
Rollie shook his head, a disbelieving smile on his face. "I'm sorry Mira, but I can't trust that. He's as wanted now as he was before and he still got away," he looked over at Angie, still standing at the window, "He's going to come back Mira, I know it. He's not finished with us yet."
"Well, if he does Rollie.....you and Angie won't be alone. You can count on me," Francis promised.
"Thanks, mate."
"Me too," Mira added.
Rollie smiled. He knew he could count on Francis and Mira without them having to say it out loud, but he appreciated it. "Thanks for coming.....I think Angie and I need some time."
Angie didn't hear Francis and Mira leave or say goodbye to her. She didn't hear Rollie come up slowly behind her until he touched her shoulder. She jumped at his touch.
"Sorry," she apologized.
"Ange? You okay?"
"No. I'm not," Angie answered seriously. "Rollie? Loubar's going to come back...... he's going to try and kill you! You know that!"
"I know," he admitted. He knew if he tried to say anything else, Angie wouldn't believe it. Besides, Angie is in as much danger as he is. "I won't let anything happen to you this time Angie. I swear to God."
Angie looked up at him in disbelief. "Me? Rollie, I'm just a means to an end. He wants you and he wants you dead. He won't stop until....." she broke off, fighting back tears.
Rollie pulled her close, crushing her in a tight embrace. He buried his head in her hair and felt Angie wrap her arms around his waist. Angie was crying softly into his chest. Rollie could feel the tremors racking her body. He hated Loubar for what he did to her. Rollie had never wanted to take a human life before.....but he knew he wouldn't let Loubar hurt Angie ever again no matter what the cost.