Postage Due -Long Listed ONC2022

Chapter 16

The interrogation rooms were full, and detectives were taking notes, recording, watching and listening behind one way windows, and generally scrambling to assemble the puzzle dumped on them. Peter was in hospital with severe concussion, unable to communicate, but a thumb drive was found in his jacket and it had revealed some damning information.

Warren had made such a fuss over seeing that Lynne was alright, Southall put them together in one room with a policeman to watch, and enforce their time limit.

"I was worried sick." Warren said, gripping her hands. "Where did you learn to drive like that? My God, I thought I was watching the Furious something or other."

"Fast and Furious," the policeman volunteered.

"Thank you. I really was scared, Lynne."

She giggled, and he held her hands tighter. "Good thing you weren't in the cab."

"Okay, if you can joke I know you're okay."

"Who's joking?"

"Times up, folks, let's go. Mr. Daly, you stay." The policeman opened the door and ushered Lynne out.

A few minutes later the door opened and Southall came in with his partner. He pulled out a chair and sat, slamming a thick file on the table in front of him.

"Have you solved the mystery, Detective?"

"The stuff of nightmares, Daly. If you hadn't found that envelope and gone to the hotel, I'd be home now eating a pizza and watching Seinfeld."

"But you never would have discovered the body of Parkhurst, or learned that some government members hired the men that killed him. Not to mention the scandalous material it contained."

"Exactly. Hence, pizza and Seinfeld."

"What happens now?"

"Lawrence Grainger sent a parliamentary lawyer down to represent you and Miss Kirk along with Mr. Proctor. He claimed you came to him in good faith with those papers everyone wanted, and shouldn't be faulted legally. Of course, trespassing and not reporting a body will be a bit tougher to dismiss."

"It was my idea, Lynne just went along because I talked her into it. She wanted to call you guys all along."

"I'm sure the lawyer will pound that home when the time comes."

"What about Proctor and all the guys in those pictures, and that video they made?"

"Depending on how the ruling goes, Proctor could get hit with attempting to bribe an MP. Somehow I see that getting buried in political flapdoodle. As far as the pictures go, the video has been taken down with an apology posted on the government's website. As for the other stuff, they didn't break any laws doing what they did – just revealed what kind of people they are. We all have dark sides, Daly."

"Maybe, but we don't kill to hide them."

"That was the work of Peter Stinson and Bradford Aitkens, and since Aitkens is dead and Stinson is in critical condition in the hospital, the verdict is still out on that. If he kicks off, there's nobody left to prosecute."

Warren sat back and chuckled wryly. "All that, and nothing planned for was accomplished."

"Oh, I don't know. While it wasn't planned, you met a pretty nice lady in Miss Kirk – she's waiting for you outside."

"We can go?"

"Until the hearings start. Don't forget to thank Grainger."

****

Warren convinced Lynne to get out of the police ride home at his place, so they could have some dinner and talk over what happened.

"First thing we do is change that stupid bandage you made."

"I was in a hurry."

She opened the first aid kit and began repairing his handiwork. "That detective told me that Lawrence Grainger sent a lawyer down to help us."

"Yep, he did. Gets my vote next time."

"I'm sure he'd like to hear that."

"Lynne, all this other stuff aside, I have to know if there's any chance with you. You know how I feel, and I understand what you've gone through. It's just that I'm afraid if I let you go, I won't get you back."

"Warren please don't do this now. We still have hearings to go through. My cab is a wreck, which means I'm out of work again until it's fixed, and my rent's due."

"If you're having financial troubles, I can help you out."

"Thanks, but that's not a great idea."

"How about giving up your apartment and moving in with me?"

"Don't you ever give up?"

"Not in your case. C'mon, it's the perfect solution."

"For you, you're thinking."

"Lynne . . . how can I convince you I love you – for you. Don't you have any reciprocal feelings?"

She sat on the sofa and looked up at him. This man stormed into her life, literally, took her on a whirlwind adventure that nearly got them both killed, and even risked his own safety for her. If you are honest, Lynne Kirk, you'll admit you do have strong feelings for him, and at thirty-one you haven't really had a lot of success relationship-wise. Admit it, you love him too, you're just afraid of commitment.

"Was the question too hard?"

She stood up and moved close to him. "To answer your question Warren Daly, I love you too. Are you really willing to give up your closet? "

His grin spread so wide that when he kissed her their teeth clicked.

END

Word Count: 20,515 Microsoft Word