Chapter 10
Three weeks later,Petra pulled into the driveway and as she turned the car off, she looked up and sighed heavily.Standing in the doorway of the building Paul had decided to make into a motorcycle shop was the man himself.Over the last few weeks, since moving in together, she had started to develop deep feelings for him.She continued to sit there until he turned and she smiled when he gave a start when he saw her and come toward her.She climbed out of her vehicle, and was at the trunk when he arrived.Without saying a word, he reached in and grabbed several bags of groceries.Neither of them spoke until they entered the kitchen.
“How did it go?”Paul asked as he started emptying the bags he’d placed on the counter.
“Good, I put in several applications.I’m not hopeful on some, but on others it seemed like there is potential.”
“Can you explain that?”
“I only picked places that we’ve seen several men go in and out of.Damn, that sounded so bad, like I’m looking to hook up with someone or something.”
“I understand, you’re talking places like the hardware store?”
“Yes, and the home improvement store, the diner, I’ve seen a lot of bikes parked outside of that on several occasions.I’m hoping to get that job, this way I can interact with them on a more personal basis.”
“I agree, did you stop by the post office?”
“I did, the mail is in the front seat of my car.I filled out the form with both of our names, and you handled the utilities two weeks ago.I believe that’s everything we need to do to get this place up and running.”
“Yes.”Paul started toward the back door, and paused when Petra called out to him.
“The mail is in the green bag on the front seat.There were several packages, however, I couldn’t make out the return address.”
Her statement caused Paul to stop, come back to her, and help her to finish putting the groceries away.
“Why don’t you go get it?”
“Because if there’s no return address, then I don’t want to open them in the house.What if it’s someone from Devil’s Scorpions or any of their affiliates found out we’re undercover?That they found us here?No, I won’t take my chances with the house.I’ll take them out behind the far barn and open them.”
“I’m going with you.I never thought of that.”Petra hurried to finish putting the groceries away, and followed him out of the house.As he opened the door, she told him the packages were in the green bag.He took it, and she grabbed the envelopes that were beneath it.She looked at the return address on one of them and called for him to stop.
“What?”
“This is from Kessler.”She held up one of the brown envelopes, and tore it open to quickly read.“He said he and Flynn both sent us packages with surveillance equipment, both personal and for the property.He also states that if we need more, then to reach out to them.”She looked up and saw his thoughtful expression as he walked over to a picnic table they had found in one of the barns and brought it out to place under the big oak tree.
He withdrew the packages from the bag, then took his knife from his pocket.Petra held her breath as he slowly, gently broke the seal, and opened the flaps of the box.They both sighed in relief as nothing exploded.Inside were several smaller boxes, and on the very top was a note.This one was from Flynn stating what each of the boxes contained.After Paul read the note, he passed it to Petra, then started removing the smaller boxes.By the time the three larger boxes were opened and emptied, they had several small containers laid out on the table.Before they could open the first one, a large brown delivery truck entered the driveway, and as the two looked at each other with a frown, they went over to see what was up.
“I have several packages for a Mr.Paul Rankin?”
“That’s me.”
“You the new owner here?I don’t ever recall delivering to you before.Not that it’s any of my business or anything.”He had talked as he went to the back of his truck, opened it, and hopped inside.
“The previous tenants were renters.They rented off me,” Paul said as he took the first package handed to him.He was surprised by its heft.
“Good to know,” the driver said as he handed out four more packages that Petra took.As soon as the driver left, they went back over to the picnic table and set the boxes down.This time, they studied them, and Petra grinned when she pointed to the return address.They both laughed when they saw it was from Paul Flynn, and the address was his office in Washington, DC.One of the boxes had and envelope taped to the front of it, and Petra grabbed Paul’s knife to open it.
“Damn,” she said as she read it, and Paul stepped closer to read over her shoulder.When they finished, they looked at each other with wide eyes.Instead of opening them there, they put the smaller boxes into the other boxes they had already opened, gathered everything, and took it inside.
