Unknown Diners

Chapter Sixty

Lorne started reading through the email exchanges between Robotham and Connolly, gaining an understanding of their professional and personal relationships. He read a few of them to Catherine and after an hour and three-quarters, he drafted a reply to the PM and read it aloud.

Hi, Bill... Thought that was you. Very nice site, better than the other. A few weeks now, still trying to settle-in. Tough. God bless, Francis.

"What do you think? Does that carry the tone?" He watched her nodding.

"Yeah, that sounds like him. I'd say send it."

He read it again silently, then pressed Send. "Gone." He glanced at the time on his computer screen. "Sixteen forty, how long do you think?" He leaned to kiss her.

"I would guess within the hour. What about Doctor Sick? Have you read any of those emails?"

"A lot of the later ones were among the three of them as they scrambled. I'll continue back to see how far it goes. See if I can find where their relationship started."

"Did you find the beginning of Robotham's with Connolly?"

"Yeah." He put his arm around her shoulder again and gave a little squeeze. "I don't think you'd enjoy it."

"My guess is they were talking about relieving Connolly of an unwanted part."

"Yeah. Robotham was going to do him when the Mounties brought charges."

"So Robotham switched from cutting to defending. Where does Frick come in?"

"I'm going to find out." He pointed to his screen. "I'm sure it's all here." He stood, moved behind her and reached his hands around to cup her breasts. "I need a break."

She turned her face to meet his lips as he bent. "A naked cuddle would be nice. I'm frazzed."

It was nineteen ten when she woke, still entangled and connected. "Amazing how tiring that stuff is. Emotionally and physically draining. You been awake long?"

"Not long. A few minutes. I was lying here thinking how much you mean to me. How much I love you."

"How much?" She giggled and squeezed a Kegel.

"They haven't invented the word for it yet, but a lot more than that." He chuckled. "Squeeze me up, Katy."

"Oh God, what was that? Space Wars or Sky Trek or something? Beam me up, Scotty." She did a slow series and felt him expand.

He began a gentle in and out to speed the process. Forty minutes later, they were back at the island counter reading the new message from rubme.

Hi, Francis... You back in Vancouver? Where? I can give you a room for a while. Do you still need my help with the excess bit? Bill.

"So it seems Robotham's in Vancouver."

"Appears to be, unless he simply has a connection here who has a room he can offer."

"Yeah, but the help thing. Sounds as if he's offering his cutting services to... Fuck! I'm getting numbed to this. Seems almost like discussing a carpentry project." She did a mock finger gag.

"I guess to them it is nothing but a project."

She stroked his forearm and nodded to the computer. "So what are you going to answer?"

"I'm going to read through the email exchange with Frick first to get a larger picture."

"Good thought. They must go back to before the trial for their manipulative conspiracy. I'll start dinner." She stood, kissed him, and walked to the fridge to explore. "There are still two pieces of snapper. How's that?"