Night fell into morning. Words wrapped in enigma that still had to be explained were put aside for another more suitable occasion. Asleep beside him, all sense of time lost, Matt watched Audrey. She was the sunshine against the thundering claps and heavy rain outside their bedroom window. He lay still, barely breathing, so as not to disturb her sleep. His gaze took in every contour of her face and naked body under the sheet. The soft whisper of the vital rhythmic motion of her chest was rewarding music to his ears. His mind, normally busy with work-related things at this time of day, was bathing in a pastoral calm when sleep’s gentle touch finally slipped over him, and time drifted blissfully further into the day.
When he awoke, the rain had stopped. The indented empty space beside him had not yet cooled. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and rifled his fingers through his hair. The running shower in the ensuite washroom ushered in an inviting tone to his ears. He smiled to himself. A good beginning to the day, he thought. Naked, he traversed the floor to the bathroom and opened the shower door and closed it behind him. Layers of time passed while the two made love under the caressing, warm spray from the shower head.
At breakfast that morning, while they sat across from each other, she enfolded in his dressing gown and he fully dressed minus his jacket, few words traversed between them. Their eyes and occasional touch conveyed it all. The soft melody of the moment needed no lyrics to express the deep love they felt for each other. Yet both knew that their future was uncertain, and that there was a subconscious history still to be told which prodigiously chipped away at the day’s serene edges.
Matt peered at the wrist where he normally wore his wristwatch only to find it bare.
“Is this what you are looking for,” Audrey said, with a mischievous smile, dangling it in front of him, its strap pinched between her thumb and forefinger. “Here, let me.” And she attached the watch to his wrist. Then with both elbows on the table, she rested her chin on her clasped hands and stared at him. “Must you go in today?”
Matt put down his coffee mug on the table. “Your eyes say much that is difficult to resist.”
“Then, don’t!”
“Look into your eyes?”
She playfully slapped at his arm. “No, silly boy! You know what I mean.”
“Pass the preserves.”
“So?”
“I can’t!” he replied, lathering the blackcurrant jam on his toast. “There are several hard decisions that must be made. And those begin today.”
“Like what?” Audrey asked, cutting off a slice of her crumpet and popping it into her mouth.
Matt returned his toast to the plate and stared at her long and hard before answering. “At Antonio’s last night my investigation took on a dramatically new redirection.”
“Are you sure you can trust your resource?”
“Philip Forsythe basically spoke for the group present. He may be many things, but I’ve grown to trust his word over the years.”
“You are talking about my Ex, aren’t you?”
“One of the same. Funny thing, though. He didn’t come alone. He had some woman with him who never took off her Guy Fawkes mask. She didn’t speak, still she seemed to play a big part in the conversation. I racked my brain the rest of that evening trying to figure out who she was. You know one of those ‘she looks familiar’ but you just can’t put your figure on it. What are you smiling about?”
“I’d put money on it that it was Louise Jenkins,” Audrey replied. “They’ve been quietly carrying on an affair for quite awhile.”
“Judge Jenkins?! Now how would you know that?”
“Because that’s why he’s my Ex.”
Matt took a bite of his toast and while he chewed, he thought. “Now that makes sense why she seemed so familiar to me. I’ve been in her Court several times giving related police testimonies. Thank you. I could give you a big kiss for solving that annoying mystery.”
Audrey pushed her open palms at Matt to dissuade the gesture. “Not with those jam pasted lips, you’re not.”
“But it would be soooo much sweeter than usual.”
“Get serious!” After a moment’s silence, she said, “Are we in danger?”
Matt sighed deeply. “I don’t want to have to lie to you.” He placed his unfinished toast on his plate and took a drink from his coffee mug.
“Then don’t. Just be up front with me.”
Matt glanced away not sure how to answer her.
“I guess we’ll find out,” he finally said matter-of-factly to help lessen the impact of her fears, accompanied with a half-hearted shrug.
Exasperated, she nodded her head side to side and dismissed his reply with the wave of her hands. “That won’t do! You can’t keep blocking me out of your thoughts when it suits you. Especially now!”
“Look, all I can tell you is that the next stage of this murder case may be way over my head—something I might not get out of easily. I don’t want you in their cross hairs or in any way used as a bargaining chip. You may not like this, but until this is over, I’ve already arranged for you to be under twenty-four-hour police protection beginning the moment I walk out that door.”
Discombobulated, Audrey could only muster up a limp “Oh. I guess I just got my answer.”
“Do you understand my problem?” Matt asked, standing. “Whoever these people are, they have connections in high places. And I intend to drag their sorry asses into the light of day!” For a moment, he scrutinized her. “Earlier, you said something that caught my attention. I think you said, “especially now.” It struck me as out of step with the conversation. Why did you say that?”
Slowly, Audrey peered up until her gaze fixed on him. “I’m carrying our baby!”
Matt flopped down onto his chair.
“Well, are you going to say something?” she asked.
“Congratulations?”