Intimate Relations: Awakened Part 17

He stopped and stared at Mandy. "I don't remember that."

"I think you were zonked out on pain meds. The doctor said you've got a perfect little divot in the bone. That's bound to hurt, so you're not nearly as big a wuss as you think you are."

"Good to know. I guess."

Ted walked out of the hallway that led to the bedrooms. Mandy dropped her handbag and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so glad you came back!"

He hugged her tightly. "Me, too, Mandy. Marc, thanks again. I'm going to love it out here." He shook hands with Marc. "But the first thing we need to do is clear this place out. Theo, you have a box?"

"Got it." Theo and Ted went through and removed all the various devices while Mandy followed and recorded the removal of each one. Tiny cameras and electronic bugs so small as to be virtually undetectable-unless, like Ted, you had a powerful scanner that found everything from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to the more conventional signals.

What was really unsettling was the number of cameras he found-whatever the camera saw would show up on the device screen, and finding cameras focused on all the beds in the house definitely had Mandy rattled.

"How did he get in?" She grabbed Marc's hand while Ted and Theo removed two cameras from her bedroom, along with a couple of listening devices.

Marc tilted his head and stared at her for a moment. "Did we lock the garage before we left?"

Marc's question actually made her feel physically ill. Mandy spun away from him and went back through the house to the kitchen. The back door lock had been jimmied, so she didn't touch it. She remembered opening the garage door so Ben could carry bundles of branches out to the driveway. He'd done a lot of pruning in the backyard and hired a landscape guy to haul off the debris.

She didn't remember locking it. In the past, they'd gotten really sloppy about keeping things locked up around here, but with all the trouble they'd had over the past couple of months, she'd been much more careful. Apparently not careful enough.

Mandy walked back to where the men were finding more devices in Ben and Lola's room. "I think the garage door might have been left unlocked. I didn't go down to check because the door into the kitchen has damage where it looks like someone broke through the lock. I think that's where he came in and I didn't want to mess up any possible fingerprints."

Ted focused on her. "I wonder if we can get prints?"

"Possibly. Whoever it was broke in through the back door. Looks like he used a screwdriver from the tool box in the garage. It's sitting on the kitchen counter, and I know neither of us left it there."

"Theo? You work on these." He handed the scanner to Theo. "I've got an evidence kit in the front room. I'll dust for prints, see if anything comes up. He glanced at Mandy. "Come with me. I need a minion."

Marc had taken over filming the removal of all the devices. He glanced at Mandy. "Minions are us. I'm not sure if I'm been promoted or demoted."

Mandy leaned over and kissed him. "Just do as you're told, dear."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I can't believe that took us all afternoon."

Mandy took the leash off of Rico and flopped down on the couch next to Marc. They'd walked down to thank Abdul and Jasper for watching the beast, and for notifying Theo about the lights on in the house.

Marc wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I can't believe how much c.r.a.p they found. Filling an entire box with miniature listening devices and cameras is sort of mind-boggling."

"I just hope we got everything."

"Theo did a second scan of the entire property, including the yard and garage, and the storage area. It came back clean."

"So did your car and mine, but it still makes me uneasy." She patted the couch on her right side. Rico jumped up and stretched out beside her. "Though if your father really is in Mexico, I doubt he'll be able to get signals from anything this far away. I wonder how long he plans to stay?"

"Not long enough." Marc's arm tightened around her.

Mandy lay her head on his shoulder. "So, what do we do now?"

"Well, Ted called the SFPD to report the break-in and all the bugs, and he actually got hold of Jose Macias." The officer had been involved when attempts had been made on Kaz's life, and again when Ben Lowell was being followed. At least he was familiar with all of them. "He's supposed to come by tomorrow or Monday to get a report, and hopefully Ted will have some info from the fingerprints. Ted's also researching hiring a cadaver dog, and Theo's having a release-of-liability form drawn up for Jeb Barton. It's going to include a reward, should we find her remains, since I doubt he'll take payment from me for letting us search. In the meantime, I need to get back to work. I've got a lot of businesses that depend on me at least knowing what they're up to."

"Do you actually know all the people who work for you?" She knew he owned a couple of software development companies, the jewelry company, and the winery, but those were the only ones she'd dealt with in her one day doing Lola's job. She didn't know what else there might be.

"Not everyone, though I personally know all the people who run the various operations. I tend to remain as out of the way as I can. There's nothing worse than a manager who inserts himself in every detail of a business that was already doing well. Theo handles the day-to-day contacts for most of them. He's very good, and he likes the challenge."

"It's wonderful of him to take Ted under his wing."

Marc had to agree. Ted seemed so much happier than when they'd first met him. "I'm really glad Ted's here. He fits well with this group. Which reminds me. We also need to come up with a plan for the coffee shop and then nail down which of the three shelters you, Lola, and Kaz think is the best one to work with. We'll have to approach them with the idea of hiring their clients as our employees, possibly through an endowment or trust of some kind, and discuss the kind of funding we can provide."

The three women had actually narrowed it down to the one they felt was best, but they'd decided to wait until everyone was back to tell the guys. They'd chosen a secular group, not a.s.sociated with any particular religion, so that all would feel welcome, and the emphasis was on giving women the tools to make it in the real world, and to raise healthy children without fear.

Which reminded Mandy ... she'd picked up a pregnancy test in Healdsburg. She certainly didn't feel very pregnant, though she really didn't know what pregnant felt like, but it never hurt to check. When Marc went into his room to make a few business calls, she headed for the bathroom.

A few minutes later she sat on the bathroom counter staring at the negative test, feeling vaguely disappointed. It had only been a week, but unless her period was late-which it wasn't, so far-she wasn't going to worry about it. It would be a relief to tell Marc he could probably relax.

Now definitely wasn't the time to be worrying about a pregnancy.

But she couldn't help but wonder how she would have felt if the test had been positive.

It was after six before Marc realized he'd spent the last couple of hours in his bedroom, but he'd had a number of phone calls to make and a few issues to deal with at one of the software firms. His shoulder still hurt, but not as much as it had this morning. Taking it easy this afternoon must have helped.

He wandered out to the kitchen to see what he could fix for dinner. It didn't seem fair that Mandy had been doing so much of the cooking, but she was already pulling something out of the oven.

"Smells good. What'd you make?" He leaned over her shoulder and recognized meatloaf and roasted potatoes. "That looks good. I didn't think you liked to cook." He kissed her cheek as she set the pan on top of the stove.

"I don't. Lola left this in the freezer for us. Now do you see why I love my sister?"

"I doubt this is the only reason, but it's certainly valid." He grabbed everything he needed to set the table, and then got out a bottle of wine. "It seems so quiet here with everyone gone."

"I know. Kaz and Jake should be home by next Thursday. No idea when Lola and Ben will be back." Without even pausing to take a breath, she added, "I did the pregnancy test today."

He paused in the process of setting silverware on the place mats. "And?"

"I'm not pregnant."

She smiled at him, but her lip was quivering. He dropped the silverware on the table and walked over to the stove. Using his right arm, he pulled her tightly against his chest. "You don't look very happy about it."

She shrugged and then ran her hand across her eyes. "I feel so stupid, but I was actually disappointed. Even though I know the timing isn't right, I've been picturing a little boy like you must have been, imagining what it would be like to hold him in my arms, to love him. I guess I'm not that much against getting pregnant as I thought."

"If it makes any difference, I'm not either. Ever since the condom broke, I've imagined you growing big with our baby. Just daydreams, I guess, but I don't want to wait too much longer."

"Once this mess with your father is over, then maybe?"

He brushed her hair back from her face, circled her skull with his hands, and kissed her. Her lips tasted of salt-the tears she hadn't entirely managed to wipe away. "Definitely then. I love you, Mandy. No matter what happens with him, I'm going to want you in my life. This isn't the time or the place, and certainly not the least bit romantic, but will you marry me? Every day we're together, I'm reminded that I don't ever want to be without you."

"You're sure? We haven't known each other all that long."

"Seventy-seven days, but who's counting?" He kissed her. "Do you love me?"

"More than anything."

"Then say yes. We'll figure out the details later." He kissed her again.

"Dinner's going to get cold." She didn't answer his proposal. Instead, she pulled away from his one-armed embrace and served their plates at the stove. "There's a salad in the refrigerator."

Marc decided to let her think about it, so he got the salad out, grabbed a couple of small plates and filled them with the fresh lettuce and tomatoes. There was homemade vinaigrette on the table, and Mandy set a plate of meatloaf and potatoes in front of each of them.

Marc poured a couple of gla.s.ses of red wine, and held his up for a toast. "To you, Mandy Monroe. Hopefully soon to be Mandy Reed. That is, if you actually accept my lame proposal."

She tapped her gla.s.s to his. "My answer should have been a given. I love you, but it doesn't feel real. Not yet."

"Probably because I did such a c.r.a.ppy job of asking and you didn't actually verbally accept. Maybe I need to draw up a contract. I'm a lot better at contracts. Jake went down on his knees in a vineyard, Ben knelt in front of Lola by the backyard bench. Even Nate was more romantic with Ca.s.sie, down on bended knee. I'm thinking I need a do over. Will you ever forgive me?"

This time her smile was the real thing. "That's not why it doesn't feel real, silly. It's because you proposing marriage has been a fantasy of mine for years, long before you even knew who I was. I'm not concerned about a do over. I'm worried you're going to realize you made a mistake and take it back."

"Never. Not on your life. Now eat your dinner. I'm thinking there has to be a way to celebrate."

She gave him a s.e.xy, pouty glance. "I'm sure we can think of something."

Marc was the first one awake Sunday morning. It was barely dawn, the room filled with gray shadows, while Mandy slept soundly beside him. It was rare for him to be awake in the morning before her-Mandy seemed to have an unlimited supply of energy, though she crashed early in order to be up before the birds. That was something they'd have to adjust to when Mandy crawled into bed before nine and he was up a lot of nights until midnight or later.

So far they'd managed to meet in the middle. They'd certainly managed well last night. He lay there beside Mandy with a stupid grin on his face. This giddy kind of joy had never been a part of his life, not until Mandy. She made everything better, though he still couldn't believe she actually loved him.

And for that he had his father to blame. Growing up unloved had unquestionably done a job on him, but he refused to let that man's failure as a human being define his life any further. With Mandy there was no doubt in his mind-not only was he capable of love, he was loved and he was wanted. In so many ways she validated him, made him see himself as a better man. With that thought in mind, he rolled over and held her close. No point in wasting a perfectly good lazy Sunday morning, especially not when they were the only two here.

He'd just dozed off when his phone rang. Grumbling, Marc reached for it, saw the call was from Ted, and answered. "What's up?"

"I just heard from Jerry Russo. It appears Steven Reed is in a jail cell in Tijuana. No idea how long extradition will take, since he's not yet been charged in Sonoma County, but the authorities in Tijuana are going to hold him for a couple of weeks to give us time to come up with a case. Right now it's on a fake pa.s.sport charge. Jerry said his people got some good prints off the Ford Bronco, so even if they can't nail him on your mom's case, they can hold him on an attempted murder charge if they come up with a good match."

"I thought Jerry said the car had been wiped down. Where'd they get the prints?"

"On the outside of the driver's side door. A full palm print, as if he might have stumbled when he was getting back into the car after taking a shot at you two. I'll let you know as soon as I hear."

"What about the prints you got from our house? Anything there?"

"Not your father's. They belong to a two-bit criminal that the SFPD is trying to locate. If we can tie him to your father hiring him, we might have something. In the meantime, I've located a private trainer who has a pretty successful cadaver dog. We'll have to pay for his round-trip flight from Montana, but his reputation is pretty solid. I just need the go-ahead from you."

"You've got it. Give him the info to bill Reed Industries for expenses-you can get that from Theo-but go ahead and arrange for his flight. If he needs a private jet to bring the dog, do that. Theo can help with the details, but you're working under my authority and any expenses will be covered."

There was a long silence. "Ted? You there?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'm here, and I'm trying to get used to doing things without tons of red tape. I think I'm going to like it."

"You'll get used to it. It's a lot more efficient, and actually more cost effective in the long run. Thank you, Ted. Just knowing you're working on this is a good feeling."

He ended the call and glanced at Mandy. She was wide awake and watching him. "Ted's got a dog that can search for your mom?"

"He does. Good morning." He leaned close and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him, and everything he'd been worrying about quietly slipped away.

Around two that afternoon Mandy wandered out into the kitchen and found Marc working on his laptop. She stood behind him, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and sighed. "I started my period."

He went absolutely still. Then, without a word, he turned and pulled her into his lap. "I know I should be relieved, but I'm actually sorry. I was kind of hoping the pregnancy test was wrong."

"Me, too." She kissed him. "Things have changed over the past couple weeks or so." She leaned her forehead against his. "At least now I can go on the pill and we can get rid of the condoms."

"For now," he said. But he didn't look very happy about it.

Which, for whatever reason, lifted Mandy's spirits much higher than they'd been.

CHAPTER 13.

One week later ...

Marc checked his phone when he heard it buzzing on the kitchen table, saw who it was, and flipped it on speaker. "Jake! Are you back in town? When did you get in?"

"About an hour ago. Kaz and I are going to sleep for a few hours. Just wanted to let you know we were here, and you can expect Ben and Lola by late afternoon."

"You sure? I haven't heard from them."

"We had a long layover in New York so I called him to check in. He said the prosecution got what they wanted to prepare their case, and that, barring any airline f.u.c.k-ups-Ben's words, not mine-he and Lola would be home in time for dinner. Their flight's due in at three twenty."

"Perfect! You and Kaz get some rest and then come over for dinner, too. We have to get together-I've missed you guys."

"Same here. We're anxious to know what the h.e.l.l's going on with your dad."

"As far as I know, he's still in a Tijuana jail. He can stay there and rot for all I care."

Jake laughed. "Oh, and Kaz wants to know what's going on with you and Mandy."

This time the laughter was all Marc's. "We'll catch up tonight. Later."