Learning to Drive... Him Crazy (24 page)

"I agree. Would it be unusual to let an
agent know about a search warrant?"

"Not if it's for a case they've worked on.
Agents often want to follow a case once they've been involved. They
like to know about new evidence we've gained."

"Good. So is this feasible? I mean, if no
one shows, so be it, it doesn't prove anything one way or another,
but the only thing it would cost is some man hours to have someone
watching his house."

"And someone might show," Brad murmured. "I
like the idea. I think it's worth a try. We won't know if it works
unless we try. I'll have to talk to Lieutenant Berry."

Alana and Kelli went through the collection
of movies in the house and found a couple that looked interesting.
They decided to watch one of them that afternoon, but John and Cal
weren't too interested in the sappy chick flick, so they went to
the exercise room to work out a little.

Cal seemed preoccupied, and John asked about
it. "You and Kelli having problems?" John asked his brother.

"Nothing major," Cal answered, "but she's
had a problem with her attitude lately and I'm not sure what to do
about it. If we were home, I'd know exactly what to do. She'd have
a sore bottom, and that would solve the problem, but we don't have
the luxury of privacy here. Besides, I know this hasn't been easy
on them. Got any ideas? Alana doesn't seem to be having any trouble
with her temper or any kind of attitude. Does she just handle this
kind of stress well, or do you have some secret way of keeping her
even tempered under stress?"

"A little of both," John answered with a
grin. "She's handling it real well, I'm proud of her. I've
encouraged her to talk to me about any concerns she has, and she
has. Just about every time we spend a little time alone she's asked
me a question or two about what's going on, and I've answered her
honestly. But she was getting pretty moody and quick tempered there
a few days ago. When I asked her about it she admitted it was
driving her crazy knowing when we got back home, she had a sound
spanking coming."

"So what did you do about it?"

"I gave her that sound spanking so she could
quit worrying about it. She's a worrier, and the anticipation was
hard on her."

"You gave her a spanking a few days
ago?"

"Yep."

"How did you manage that without us hearing
it? Did either of the agents?"

"Nope. The office was soundproofed. This one
is, as well. Tell Brad you really need some time with Kelli where
you're sure you won't be overheard, and ask if you can use the
office for a little while. I'm sure he'll be fine with it unless he
needs it for some reason."

"Do you think I'm out of line if I do spank
her? Like I said, I know they're going through some difficult
times."

"I can't speak for Kelli, but a spanking
settles Alana down. She's happier for a couple days. I think it
kind of grounds her, reminds her I'm here and paying attention to
her, watching out for her. I think it makes her feel secure. You
know Kelli better than me, obviously, but that might be just what
she needs right now."

"It might be at that. Thanks, John."

"No problem, little brother." The two of
them shared a grin and a fist bump. When they left the exercise
room, Cal went to find Brad.

After dinner they were playing a game of
Pictionary, and John saw what Cal was saying earlier. Kelli was
having an attitude problem.

Cal tried to solve the problem by
suggesting, "You know what? I really feel more like swimming than
playing this. I've got a bunch of restless energy I need to get rid
of. Anyone else feel that way?"

Alana quickly agreed. "I'm with you." She
jumped up and headed to the pool, with the others following.

The girls grabbed their swimsuits off the
line they hung them on the night before, after their swim. Kelli
complained, "It's still damp."

"It's just going to get wet again in a few
minutes," Alana said as she went into the dressing room to
change."

"I hate putting a damp suit on," Kelli
complained as they came back out to the pool.

"You don't have to wait on us, " Cal said as
he and John headed for the dressing room. "You can go ahead and
jump in. Then it won't be damp."

Once they were in the dressing room and they
heard Alana and Kelli splashing in the pool John quietly said, "I
see what you mean, buddy. Did you talk to Brad about the
office?"

"I did," Cal answered, "and he said it'll be
free all night. I might be using it."

"And she might be happier for it," John
said.

"Yeah, we'll see," Cal said.

"Not at the time, I'm sure, but later," John
encouraged.

They went out and dove in the pool.

All four of them swam some laps, which was
proving to be a good way of working off some of the stressful
energy that seemed to be bothering them more the longer they were
cooped up. After that they were relaxing in the shallower water
when Agent Barstow appeared. "You guys all look like you're
enjoying yourselves and I hate to interrupt, but John, could I talk
to you a minute, please?"

"Sure," John said, climbing out of the pool.
"Let me dry off and get dressed and I'll be right there."

"Thanks, John. I'll be in the office."

John kissed Alana and said, "Enjoy
yourselves as long as you want. When I'm done with Brad I'll come
back and see if you're still here."

He walked into the office five minutes later
and Brad said, "Close the door and come on in."

John was curious. He knew something had to
have happened or Brad wouldn't have pulled him out of the pool and
into the only totally secure, soundproof room. He closed the door
and asked, "What happened, Brad?"

"After we talked, I suggested they ask
Decker a few more specific questions. His answers solved one of the
questions we had, so I wanted to fill you in. You wondered why the
charade of the stakeout?"

"Yes. I never really felt comfortable with
the explanation they gave. There had to have been some other
reason."

"There was. It turns out they were missing
two stones, not just the one. The ruby Alana found was one, but
they were still missing another one. The stakeout would make the
whole thing public and explain the remaining missing stone in the
event it surfaced. They knew it was possible that if it were in
another shoebox, whoever got it wouldn't have seen it and it may
have gotten thrown away. But they also knew it was possible someone
would find it and come forward with it. If whoever found it went to
the wrong person, it could start an investigation and they'd get
caught. So they took the offensive so if another stone emerged it
wouldn't be a red herring."

John took a moment to consider this new
information. "That would eliminate the worry over another missing
gem being found."

"Yes, it would," Brad agreed.

After more thought, John admitted, "Yeah,
with that added into the mix, the stakeout would potentially solve
a lot of problems."

"I agree," Brad said. "I'm satisfied now
about that question, of why do that. That only leaves one question
in my mind yet, and that's how they knew where you were. I'm told
that everyone involved knows the search will happen tomorrow, and
we have guys in place."

"So if someone shows up tonight or tomorrow
morning and they turn out to be a rat, that answers all our
questions and we'll be free." As an afterthought he asked, "Or am I
forgetting something?"

"If you are, so am I. At this point, I'm not
sure if I'm hoping someone shows up at Decker's house or not."

"I was thinking the same thing. I hate to
think of someone in the FBI being involved in this, but I'd like to
know there's a good explanation for how he knew where we were,"
John said.

"Me, too. Oh, we did learn one more thing.
Apparently Detective Dan Moss was the king pin of this theft
ring."

"Moss? Are you sure?"

"Not completely, but once Decker worked out
a plea bargain with the prosecutor, he's answered everything we've
asked. According to him, Moss was in charge. He said when they
found a target, Moss would take a guy with him and watch it, get
all the information they could about it, including when and how
would be the best time to hit it. He also said Moss was the one
that went to the judge to get Wilson out early, and he's the one
that told Wilson he'd get him out early in exchange for working for
them. We verified what we could so far. Moss is the one that went
to Wilson's attorney and said if he'd file to get him out Moss
would testify that he's changed since he's been in prison this time
and that he helped Moss solve an old case."

"I thought Jensen is the one that testified
to get Wilson out."

"He is the one that testified, but
apparently that was because Moss was out of town at the time. Moss
is the one that approached Wilson's attorney initially."

"Interesting. I hadn't thought of him being
in charge, but I guess it could be him as well as anyone else."

"Decker said he's the one that gave the
orders. At this point, we don't have anything to say any
differently, but we have several things pointing in that
direction."

"Okay. Well, I assume if you hear anything
else, or if anyone shows up at Decker's house, you'll let me
know?"

"Absolutely," Brad assured him.

John went back to the pool just as the girls
were coming out of the dressing room. Kelli told Cal, "Okay, we're
out of the pool as you ordered. Now what are we going to do, sit
and stare at each other?"

Cal sighed and said, "Kelli, I didn't order
everyone out of the pool. After you had your major temper tantrum
no one was very comfortable in there and I suggested we get out.
You didn't voice any objection until now."

"It wouldn't have done any good anyway. And
I didn't have a major temper tantrum. Nothing like
exaggerating."

Alana had moved next to John and he could
tell she was uncomfortable. She quietly suggested, "Maybe we should
watch a movie?"

"If I watch one more damn movie I'm going to
go crazy."

Cal looked at John. "Is the office
free?"

"Brad and I just left there. It should be
free."

"Good. I think we're going to go have a
talk."

"Okay. Tell Brad so he knows."

Kelli looked at the two guys. "What the hell
are you talking about?"

John's eyebrows rose and he said, "Have a
good talk."

He took Alana's elbow and guided her toward
the living room. When she asked, "What's going on," he kept walking
and said, "Let's talk a little bit, too."

They got to the living room and sat down on
the couch. She turned to John. "Okay, what's going on?"

"Did Kelli have a temper tantrum this
evening?"


"Oh, yeah," Alana confirmed.

John smiled. She wasn't even trying to
defend her friend. He said, "They're going to the office, just like
you and I went to the office at the other house."

A look of understanding spread over her
face. "Is this office soundproof, too?"

"Yes, it is," John answered.

"Good."

John's eyebrows shot up. "Good?"

Alana's face blushed as she said, "Yes. I
think she and Cal need to have a good talk. I think that's what she
needs."

John pulled her over against his shoulder.
"Was it what you needed?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yes, it was. I feel much better."

"But you were having trouble with the
anticipation aspect, honey. Is she?"

"She says no, but I think she is. Maybe she
won't admit it to herself, but I think she is. But it helped me
more than just that. This whole situation had me wound so tight I
was about ready to explode. After our talk, it reminded me that I'm
not alone, but you're here looking out for me. That's helped calm
me down a lot."

"Good. I thought it had," John said.

"Yeah. But I hope this is over soon, because
every now and then I feel some of that stress creeping back in. I
have to take a deep breath and remind myself you're still here for
me."

"That's my girl. We're getting closer every
day now, honey, but if it takes a few more days, I'll keep a close
eye on you. If you need my help, I'll remind you I'm still keeping
my eye on you."

"That should sound very ominous, I know, but
you just made it sound sweet."

They both laughed, but he was happy that she
was able to admit it helped her. Their relationship was growing
stronger every day.

* * * * *

Cal ran into Brad as he was leaving the pool
area, Kelli in tow. "Hey, Brad, is the office free?"

"It should be free all night, Cal. It's all
yours."

"Thanks," Cal said as he tugged Kelli in,
shut the door and locked it.

"What's so special about the office? We
could have talked in the den," Kelli said.

"The den isn't soundproof," Cal explained
casually. "This office is."

"Okay," Kelli said, obviously not seeing the
importance of that statement. Then she remembered the night Alana
and John went to the office to 'talk' at the other safe house. She
sat up straight and said, "Oh, no. Don't even think about it," she
said.

"Think about what?"

"Don't even think you're going to spank me
in here," Kelli said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"If you can convince me you haven't earned a
good spanking, I won't give you one," Cal said. "But since we both
know you've earned one dandy spanking, let's just get on with
it."

"What do you mean, I've earned a dandy
one?"

"Kelli, you've had a horrible attitude for
the last four or five days. The temper tantrum you had tonight in
the pool, which was after the one you had this evening while we
played Pictionary, was enough to earn you a spanking. If you're
still not convinced, should we talk about the book you threw this
morning, or the shoe you threw last night? Let's talk about some of
your language you've used lately, like when you asked what the hell
I'm talking about not very long ago."