Chapter 34 : Checkmate
Julie watched Harry saunter into the bathroom, smiling at the evident bounce in his step. Convincing him she was someone other than who she was, had been easier than she had expected. The Katherine Evans alias was one she had used before. She was always careful to conceal her identity when enjoying one of her flings. These young men, full of vigor could also be quite ambitious and, if they knew who she was or whose wife she was, they would certainly want more than just a romp in the sheets with her. One happy-go-lucky blackmailer was all that was required, and her life would change dramatically.
Ditching herself back to the present, she pursed her lips delicately. There was a disturbing development. The man she had posted to watch Isla's apartment hadn't seen her in over 72 hours. Under pressure by Julie, he had pretended to be a UPS guy, having a package for Isla. Dressed to play the part, he had knocked on her door for five solid minutes before a disgruntled man poked his head out of one of the doors down the hall and hollered curse words at him. Nate, her spy guy, had burrowed a leaf from her methods, and with a twenty-dollar bill, he had been able to extract a bit more information from the irate man who identified himself as Jake. Apparently, Isla had skipped town with her boyfriend.
Come to think about it...Julie's eyes narrowed at the door behind which Harry was having a shower. He had known Isla's apartment, and considering how obscure Isla had tried to make herself, that had to count for something. God, she hoped he knew something. She heard the water stop and mentally prepared herself.
It was interrogation time.
He came out, beads of water running down his body which she let her eyes follow, travelling the length of his body where he stood. Except for the towel, he was naked as the day he was born before her. He had an amazing body and the sexy rascal knew it. Switching on her best seductive vibe, she pursed her lips at him, flicked a finger between them. "Come."
The words were quiet, but laced with such command that Harry found his feet moving before he knew what he was doing.
The space between them was covered in seconds, and he stretched next to her, groaning when she pulled the towel off him and met his lips in a languid kiss.
That was a far as both of them could go, tired to the bone from their exertion. They came up for air and Julie sat up, propping her pillows to rest her head against. Harry did the same, suspecting a conversation was on the way.
"I still think of the day we met," she started, drawing her index finger around his chest. "I still can't believe you waited that long for me."
"I can scarcely believe it myself," Harry responded, a bit self-conscious. It had been embarrassing, if he was to be honest about it, and did not see the point of her going over it again. Although...the sexual gratification he had had during the days with her, was worth the wait.
"Well, I think it was very manly and is one of the main reasons I'm in bed with you right now. A true man identifies what he wants," she stated grandly, "and goes for it."
He smiled, feeling better about himself. Then Julie's expression changed dramatically, infusing intense worry in him. He didn't wait long to know what the problem was.
"Isla's aunt Molly called again today, desperate to see her. Such a mess," she said, shaking her heart sadly. The story she had sold Harry was that she was the owner of a home for the elderly, and Isla's aunt was closer to her time and had one wish she desperately wished would come through; meet with her favorite niece one last time. ‘I just want to bake cookies with her one last time,’ she would say. I travelled all the way to Chicago because I couldn't bear to watch her suffer. And now, I can't even reach Isla anymore. It's been two days!" Julie moaned. And that…that man I saw her with," she stammered. "I just hope she's safe."
"But why would she leave like that? It almost seems like she moved because of you." Harry observed.
Julie grit her teeth, but maintained the sweet damsel in distress exterior. "She and her aunt weren't on good terms. I think the aunt maltreated her badly or something when they lived together. I don't have the details, I don't know. In fact, I think the woman is more desperate to get Isla to reconcile with her before she goes to meet her maker." She let out a shaky breath, "Oh, Isla! How could she be so hard hearted?"
Moved, Harry held her hands in his. "Be calm," he started, willing her to breathe more evenly. He was lost in thought for a moment, weighing the implications of what he was about to do. George had given explicit instructions to give their location to no one - not even their friends in HQ. But, they were cleared to come back to Chicago so he didn't think it was risky anymore. But how was he supposed to say no to an elderly aunt close to her grave? He pictured his own Nana making the same request and being turned down. The guilt would be on his head all his life, and that was something he could not stand. Didn't want to even try.
He looked again at the stunning beauty next to him, a shadow of doubt passing over him. But what reason did she have to lie, he wondered. What could her motive possibly be? Her entire story seemed legit. Why else would a woman chauffeured in a luxury car and wearing such fine jewelry be found in such a dingy neighborhood in the first place?
She was an angel of mercy -- albeit a naughty one, considering all they had done recently -- and he wasn't going to stand in her way. "Well," he said cheerfully, encouraging her to smile back. "I know where she is."
It was a struggle to keep herself from grinning in satisfaction. There was only one thought in her head as she waited for him to reveal Isla's location -- Checkmate.