THE TROUBLE WITH DECEIT

Part 12 Honesty is the best policy

Kip and Dev walked in silence for a little while, both of them gathering their shattered thoughts. "So how man? when? you've been with us the whole time" shaking his head miserably Kip replied "not the whole time Dev, remember when I went back to the shop for my pager.  When I got there, you wouldn't believe it, that guy, the thief was back in there again.  Reece fought him and sent the guy packing, he was so brave."  Rolling his eyes his mate said, "oh please! enough of the hero worship I'm gonna vomit!"  Laughing Kip said, anyway while I was there he kissed me. I~I was scared.  I~I shouted at him and I left and came back to join you guys.  But, that kiss, and before you say anything, it was on my forehead, it felt like an angel was kissing me.  And I knew, but I wouldn't admit it to myself. After that I didn't even want to live, then, just like that, when I was at my lowest, he found me.  " Wide-eyed Dev said,  "he found you? where did he find you?" "He found me here Dev, he somehow sneaked in.  I had to do it! we kissed, properly, but Fey! I do love her, only just not in that way.  What can I do, I can't even run away, I would never survive in this time."  Grabbing his friends arm tightly and pulling him to a halt he said.  "Do the right thing mate, or this mess will only get worse."   "No! I can't give him up Dev, I really do love him, like, real love, love that hurts. "Smiling grimly Dev said, no Kip that's not what I meant, I can see you love him for real.  I mean you are going to have to do the right thing by Fey and tell her what you have told me.  All of it, if you like I can come with you when you tell her, if you love her like you say you do then she needs to be a part of this too.  Oh and just so we are clear on this, I'm going to tell Rani too because she won't be at all happy with me if she finds out I have been holding out on her."  Overwhelmed by emotion and love for his friend Kip suddenly pulled Dev into a hug and kissed him on the cheek, grinning broadly Dev joked "sorry mate I'm taken!"

They walked back to where they had left Fey, who had now been joined by Rani.  Something had tickled them as they were both squealing with laughter. "Rani! please!" Dev said gesturing to her. "A minute please!" As Dev and Rani walked away Kip knew that he had to tell Fey now, the cat was about to be out of the bag with Rani and there would be no way that she wouldn't share what she was about to hear with Fey.  Despairingly shaking his head he said, "Fey, we really need to talk, I haven't been honest with you about something very important."  In a small voice, she said: "are you breaking up with me Kip, do you think I've done something wrong?"  putting interlinked hands behind his head, he said "I've done something wrong, Fey, and I'm so sorry, it's unforgivable of me. I have lied to you and led you on. I never meant for this to happen.  I should have been ballsy like Dev is, but instead, I was a coward and I took the cowards way out. Well not anymore, you deserve to know what's going on".  Kip went on to tell her in detail and trying not to leave anything out, everything that had happened since they had arrived in this time period.  "And this man, this Reece! where is he now? is he coming back here? what are you going to tell the others?" a shaken Fey asked.  He will come back soon yeah, and you will meet him.  Fey I don't want to tell the others, a lot of them won't understand and we are already up against it.  I don't want to pile my personal problems on top of what everyone is already trying to cope with.":   "Do you know where he lives?" she asked. "No I don't know where he lives Fey but I know how to find him. The lady who owns the shop where he works can tell us, he is very close with her." Sighing loudly she said, "I must be mad but come on, we are going to find him now. You must know how he got in so you can get us out using the same route."  Kip knew this tone of old and he knew there would be no diverting her now so he acquiesced and they set off immediately.

Meanwhile back in the big house the intruder alarm suddenly sounded, and as this was their agreed signal for urgent announcements.  Everybody headed for the conference room,  where Mr. Howard was already at the front desk.   Without preamble, he announced "I have just had a call to say that we have company arriving from the despatch portal.   Don't get your hopes up, this is not a resumption of normal service or rescue for us.   All that I have been told is,  it is a matter of extreme urgency and that our assistance is going to be required.   We are sending a car out to the target portal right away to pick up three VIP visitors from our own time.  I promise you all that as soon as they arrive here, I will make sure that you are all kept fully informed about all transpiring events as soon as I know them.  I assure you there will be no secrets kept from you.  We should be seeing them in around fifteen minutes time.  Although I am sure it is not what they will want, I suggest that we all remain here in the conference room and await their arrival.  And they will then see that we will only accept full honesty to all of us.  As we said before, we are our own family now and as such we will insist on transparency and honesty from them."