“Would you want me to work outside the home?”
“That’s up to you, you can, or you can stay home.”
“I’ll put a pin in that too.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to be dealing with the guys when they arrive, correct?Whether they are the ones you know, or ones that Kessler sends to us.Eventually, we’ll have to reach out to Flynn and tell him to send guys our way if they need to get lost, you know, if their cover might be blown, if they’re compromised, or whatever.Your front will be the repair shop.I imagine the guys that will be arriving whenever they’re done with their lives back home will be working with you.You won’t be able to get to town often to hear any local gossip, to know if there’s anything going on.I’m sure I could find a part-time job, once we’re settled, to listen to the locals.However, I want to get unpacked and settled here first before I go to town and look for work.I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but I think we should get the house set up first before you start the bike shop.”
“I never thought of that,” Paul said with a nod.“I agree with you about the house.Let’s go look.”They walked toward the big farm house, but before they went up the steps and onto the porch Paul paused to pick up several rocks before he found what he was looking for.He opened the bottom of one to withdraw the key and looked at Petra with a grin.She only shook her head at him.
After he unlocked the door, he stepped back and allowed her to turn the knob and enter before him.He walked in behind her and looked around with a nod.The previous renters had said they had cleaned everything, and he could still smell the cleaning solution they had used.He hadn’t thought anything about it, just people making placating words, but they had actually cleaned.
“Wow, when did they move out?”
“Five days ago,” Paul said as he walked around to familiarize himself with the house again.He had only lived there for two weeks before he had rented it out and headed to Washington, DC to talk with Kessler and Flynn about going undercover with Devil’s Scorpions.
They toured the downstairs together, and he talked as they walked.“I had only lived here for two weeks before I was called into the offices of Kessler and Flynn.That’s when I went through a shit ton of testing to make sure my entire memory had returned.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means that when I kidnapped that woman, and was shot and left for dead, the bullet hit me square in the metal plate in my head.It literally rattled my brain, and when I woke, I had no memory.Because I had been a veteran, while I was still unconscious, Flynn had me transferred to the nearest VA.It was a good eight months before I woke up, then I had no memory.All total from the time I was shot to when I regained my full memory was close to two years.Then after all the testing, it was another six months, then I was sent to Devil’s Scorpions.”
“Damn, you’re not having any problems now, are you?”
“No, my memory is still intact, and I remember everything I did.As much as I regret my actions, there’s nothing I can do about it now.The woman in question is happy, healthy, and married to the love of her life.”He nodded as he continued to walk around, opening doors to refamiliarize himself with the house.At one point, he opened a door and frowned.
“What’s wrong?”Petra asked when she looked up and saw his expression.
“I don’t recall the steps leading to the basement to be completed like this.”
“Well,” Petra said as she held up a piece of paper.“According to this note, the previous renters contacted Director Flynn and asked if they could make improvements.He agreed, and they went ahead and made changes.”
“Oh, well, then let’s go look.”He went down first, and when Petra joined him, he stood in shocked silence at the area around him.“Damn,” he said softly.“It’s like a complete apartment down here.I knew there was something before, but not this complete, or not this nice.”
“Yeah, I’m not telling you what to do with your own home, but this place seems big enough that the guys can crash here until they find a place of their own in the area.”
“Yeah,” he said and continued to walk around.When they were back upstairs, they continued on to the second floor and studied the rooms there.He looked at her and nodded.“I’m assuming this is the master, and if you want it, you can take it.I can take the other room with the connecting bath.”
“I don’t want to put you out in your own home,” Petra started to say, then smiled as he turned, gathered her in his arms, and studied her until she looked at him.
“You’re not, in case you didn’t remember, I like you Petra, I want to see if we can have something instead of a working relationship.Something personal.Eventually, if my plans go as I want, then I will be moving into this room with you.”He looked at her with a grin.“Just don’t take up all the closet space.”
Petra laughed, then lifted her hand to place on the back of his neck, and brought his head down for a kiss.It was a long time before either of them lifted their head, and when they did, they were both breathing hard.
“Okay,” she whispered against his lips and kissed him again.
