Chapter 31

Rebecca walked into Larry's office a couple of hours later. "I'm sorry. I couldn't handle talking about it."

"Have you been crying?"

"Yes. I just want to forget about it, but everywhere I go. I am reminded of it." Rebecca said as she started crying again.

Larry got up and walked around the desk. He walked up to her and pulled her close. She tried to pull away, but he held her tight. She gave up the fight and cried against him. He held her without speaking until she stopped crying. "I wish I could make it all go away, but I can't. I can be here for you to cry on, yell at or even hit if you feel the need," Larry said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm glad I have such an understanding boyfriend."

"I also brought up your dinner," Larry said.

Rebecca looked up at Larry. "Thank you. Why do I deserve you?"

"Because you complete me." Larry said then kissed her. "I love you, Rebecca. Nothing you do will change how I feel."

"I just want this over. I don't want to think about it anymore."

"I told the chief to give me a call before he just decides to show up," Larry said. "It was wrong of him to just come," he said. "I told him to tell me what is going on. Then I will pass it on to you."

"Thank you."

"I also talked to Duane about the security."

"I figured you did. Since I didn't see anyone when I came up."

"The cameras are always running and someone is always watching them."

"I know. I don't mind that as much as the actual person I can see."

"I know it will take some getting used to."

"I'm trying Larry. I really am."

"I know you are. Before too long, you'll be as comfortable as I am," Larry said. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Do you want to eat anything?"

"No. I'm not hungry. I think I will just get ready for bed and watch some television. Are you still working?"

"No. I was just surfing the web."

"Can you help me change my bandage?"

"Of course." Larry said as he walked with her out of the office. He turned off the light.

Rebecca woke Larry up early by tossing and turning in bed. He rolled over and put his arm around her and held her tight. She stopped and turned into him. They held each other and went back to sleep.

Larry's phone rang in the morning. He reached over and picked it up. "Hello? Yes, you did. I know. All right. I will see you there as soon as I can. Bye." Larry hung up.

"I guess you have to go to work."

"Yeah, Joe thinks he can't do anything by himself."

"Well, then you have to help him."

"I will. I don't know if putting him on this project was such a good idea."

"It's all right. I have plenty to keep me busy."

"Call someone if you need help, all right?"

"I will."

Larry rolled over and put his arm around Rebecca. He kissed her. "I'll see you when I get home."

"I'll be around here somewhere."

"I want to be here for you."

Rebecca faced him. "You are here for me even when you're not. I want everything to be normal. I don't want people to treat me different because of the attack."

"I'll mention something on my way down. I also told the chef that you have full access to the pantry. Help yourself."

"I'll probably wait, but thanks."

"I'll try to get done early so we can go out."

"Do what you need to." Rebecca said then kissed him. "I'll be here when you get back." She kissed him again. "Go to work."

Larry rolled and got out of bed. He pulled a suit out of the closet and underwear and socks out of the drawer. He headed into the bathroom.

Rebecca get out of bed shortly after Larry left. She went to the bathroom then changed her clothes. She walked over to the bed and made it. She walked out to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She carried it down the hall to the storage room. She turned on the radio and opened a box. She started going through it.

Rebecca carried a box of pictures with her hammer and nails. She pulled the pictures out of the box and decided where to put them. She pulled up the hammer and gripped it with her cut hand. She winced and walked over to the counter. She put it down and grabbed her phone. She checked her messages, then walked out the door.

Rebecca sat at Larry's table finishing off her lunch when Brian walked up. "Hi, Rebecca."

She looked up. "Hey, Brian. Do you want to sit?"

"Sure." Brian sat down. "How was your lunch?"

"It was good. What are you up to?"

"I came to see you actually." He reached inside the bag he was carrying and pulled out a box. He put it on the table. "I put everything from your laptop's hard drive on this external hard drive."

"Thank you," Rebecca said. "Did you to decrypt everything?"

"No. It took me a long time to do the files off the flash drive." Brian said. "What kind of encryption is that?"

"It's my own actually. It was a code me and my brother had when we were kids so our parents didn't know what we were talking about."

"And you put it in an encryption? How did you do that?"

"I just used a basic program and changed the values of each letter," Rebecca said. "It wasn't that hard."

"So you reprogrammed a program?"

"Yes. I actually thought my brother would remember our code and figure it out, but I guess he didn't."

"I'm sure he would have in time."

"I don't know. It was a long time ago when we were kids."

"You remembered it, though."

"Yes, but I guess he didn't think of it. My family and I haven't really seen eye to eye on my career. Hopefully it can change."

"Are you going to do the same kind of career?"

"I don't think so. If I stay with Larry, people will know who I am and I will always have security around. I wouldn't be able to sneak around. That is crucial in my old job."

"Yes, that is true. What do you think you're going to do?"

"I started writing a book about my experience. I will continue to do that. The newspaper asked me to look at them, but I don't think I want to do that anymore."

"Maybe you can do a different kind of reporting. I think you should take a look at it."

"I might. I'm not sure yet," Rebecca said. "Can you swing a hammer?" She asked after a moment.

"I have before. Why do you ask?"

"I want to hang pictures, but with my hand, I can't grip the hammer," Rebecca said. "Can you help me hang pictures?"

"I can try."

"Great," Rebecca said. "I don't want to keep you from anything, though."

"I'm not busy."

"Ok." Rebecca said then got up. Brian put the hard drive back into his bag and followed her out of the restaurant.

Larry walked into the apartment around three to see Rebecca and Brian in the middle of hanging a picture. He put his briefcase on the chair and watched them for a moment. "This looks nice."

Rebecca turned around. "Hi, I didn't hear you come in." She said as she stepped off the chair she was standing on.

Brian stepped down. "Boss, we were just hanging things."

"I know that. What do you think I thought you were doing?"

"He brought over the hard drive and I recruited him," Rebecca said. "I would have done it myself, but I couldn't grip my hammer."

"You don't have to explain yourselves. I trust both of you," Larry said. "I'm not the type to jump to conclusions."

"I know how it might look, Boss. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea."

"It's fine, Brian. You did a good job."

"Thanks." Brian said. "I guess I should get going."

"You don't have to go."

"I should go check on things at the office."

"Thanks for helping, Brian," Rebecca said.

"You're welcome, Rebecca." Brian said then walked out.

"I like the pictures."

"Thanks," Rebecca said. "I have more that I want to put up, but I'm not sure where. I also found more books. I thought I would keep them for now."

"I know where a bookshelf is if you would want to use it."

"Sure, you can show me, but I don't think I will do anymore today."

"All right." Larry said then walked down the hall towards his office. He opened the door across the hall. They walked in. "Is this enough room for your books?"

"Yes, I think this will work," Rebecca said.

"If you want, you can make this room for writing or whatever."

"So, you started an office for me?"

"No. It already had the built-in shelves and cabinets. I wasn't sure which one I wanted for my office when I first moved in," Larry said. "If you don't want it, we can buy a bookshelf and put it somewhere else."

"No, this is fine for now," Rebecca said. She went over to Larry and hugged him. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he said. "Do you want to go grocery shopping?"

Rebecca looked up at him. "I don't know. I don't think you really want to go."

"I haven't been in a grocery store in a long time. "Larry said. "It could be something that I like to do.".

"I doubt it," Rebecca said. "Not many men like going to the grocery store."

"I'm up for anything. Just let me get changed," Larry said. "And since you are safe now, you can start the process to get your license," Larry said. "And change your address."

"I'll do that later. I guess."

Larry let Rebecca go and walked out of the office. Rebecca looked around the room then walked out.