Chapter 1

Billy was on deck when the yacht slid into its berth in Palermo Harbor. Word had already spread of the special yacht that was arriving. The harbor master could not keep a secret. A steam driven 1904 yacht was a one of a kind thing. Even now photographers and newsmen were hurrying toward the marina. Horns were honking and Italian swear words were being fingered and called out as people slowed to wonder at all the commotion.

Speculation was flowing like honey as to who the yacht belonged to. The Medea could be Greek, perhaps a member of the Royal family. Quite a crowd had gathered. Billy was pleased he went down to Blaine’s cabin to inform him all was ready.

“Did you see the car, I don’t want to be standing around waiting for that?”

“The car is in the designated place and protected by orange cones and yellow tape.

“Cones and tape,” Blaine looked around once again in his cabin to make sure he had everything. He needn’t have worried. Billy had taken care of everything. He’d dressed him in black with his silver capped canes and thought he looked really sexy.

“Sunglasses?” he asked.

“Not today, let them see how handsome you are. Mandi is a knock out wait until you see her.”

Indeed she had put together an original and colorful outfit of greens and purples and hot pink. She had a black hat with a veil that would just cover her eyes and the feather would droop around the crown and down on her shoulder. It had come aboard in its own box. She half thought she might use it to play with Blaine but the opportunity hadn’t come. Black fishnet stockings and high heels from under a multi layered flimsy skirt of green, purple and pink. It was actually a vintage Puccini worn with a tight green sweater.

David blinked when she stepped out of her cabin. “Oh dear God.” He mumbled.

“Will I or will I not cause a commotion?”

“You have caused one here.” He grinned.

The crew shielded David as he came up in his special chair. Once he was on his feet with his canes they stepped back. He met Mandi on the deck and they walked to the ramp that had been set up for them. Billy walked a respectful distance behind them and then moved to the front when he saw there was no police protection for the visitors.

They paused while the Harbor Master scurried to put up a barricade. He had people running this way and that. While they waited David answered a few questions. Yes he was the owner, Baron David Blaine. He had never in his life used that title and he wasn’t sure he was even entitled to use it, his father never did. But it sounded right at the moment. He introduced Mandi as his fiancé. Finally they were able to move through the crowd. He paused again and gave out some information about the yacht and again his name and Mandi’s.

They were both happy to see Billy standing by the car with the back door open. Somehow, Quang had made it through the crowd unnoticed and was in the passenger side of the front seat. Two crew members had brought the luggage to the car and secured it in the trunk. Billy was now chauffer of the black limo he’d leased. He pulled a cap out of his little bag and settled it on his head.

“Anybody know where we’re going?” he asked and started the motor.

“You did make a reservation?” Blaine asked.

Billy grinned and punched the address into the GPS on the dash.  “Grab your balls we’re off.” He said and laughed. The laughter soon died as the GPS began spewing out directions in Italian. Mandi leaned over the front seat and translated for him.

“It’s the Hilton Palermo Palace, they all seemed to be palaces.” He looked out of the window as he pulled up to the entrance. It had been a long and winding road that took them up a hill to the hotel. He got out and opened the door for Blaine.

David and Mandi stepped out onto the paved drive. She took his arm, “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” he glanced absently down at her.

Billy went inside and soon a trolley was brought out for their luggage and Blaine entered the hotel. He signed them in and got keys, four of them. Mandi was a little surprised but she hid it well. If she was supposed to be his fiancé then why separate bedrooms.

Her room was large and airy and connected to his so all was not lost. She unlocked the door on her side and knocked. Billy opened the other side. Blaine was out on the balcony. She went out to join him while Billy unpacked and set the room to rights for him.

“Beautiful view,” she said.

“Yes.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking somewhere down there, down amongst the rooftops are two people who murdered my uncle. I’m thinking I have to find them.”

“What then, what will you do when you find them?”

He didn’t answer her.

“David?”

He leaned against the balustrade and slipped a hand up her tight sweater to play with her nipple. A sure distraction for he didn’t want to answer any questions. She leaned against him and he brought her in front of him leaning her back against him he had her breasts exposed.

“That’s called indecent exposure do you want us to end up in an Italian jail.” Billy asked from the French door.

“Do you think this is indecent?” he turned her toward Billy.

“No, it’s rather beautiful.” Billy went back into the bedroom.

“David…don’t.”

“Don’t what, you like this and I do too.” He kissed  her neck and rolled her nipples in his fingers.

She felt the weakness in her knees. “Out here on the balcony?”

“In the sun.”

“In front of Billy?”

“He likes to watch.” He turned her around and suckled her breasts pulling her skirt up.

She thought he was going to take her there, he was pulling her thong aside underneath her garter belt. He wanted to play with her and he did until she arched against him and claimed his mouth. She leaned her head on his shoulder, “I can’t believe I let you do this out here in front of him.”

“What’s gotten into you, you never cared where or when or what? The kinkier the better.”

“Billy is not like Ali.”

“I know that, he’s not bisexual.”

“Then why do you do this?”

“I told you, he likes to watch. He will be ready when I go in.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip and tasted his kiss. “Can I watch?” Not that she especially wanted to at the moment. Something didn’t feel right about this.

“If you like, I’d like it.”

“Will he mind?”

“Do you care?” he squeezed her breasts.

She was his, she would do anything for him.

 

Later he was alone in his room and he’d been in the shower. He was now wrapped up in a towel and laying on his bed. He hoped when all this was over that they would  forgive him. He loved them both. If what his cousin had told him was true of the couple he was out to find, then Mandi and Billy would have to allow what was inevitable to happen. He hoped their love for him was strong enough to forgive. He wanted to cry and to be held, just held, and he thought of Margret Langston and her strong arms. They were probably holding Lyssa but Lyssa’s Daddy needed comforting too. He drifted off to sleep holding a pillow in his arms.

Billy checked on him a few hours later. Mandi was already down in the hotel bar.

“Hey,” Billy sat down on the side of the bed, “are you going to sleep the night away?”

He opened his eyes and turned over, “What time is it?”

“Time to get up and get dressed have a drink or two and dinner. Shall I put something together for you?”

“Yes, please.” He watched while Billy pulled an outfit for him together, “Do I offend you in any way?”

“No, no of course not.”

“I mean sexually. I don’t…I don’t want to, Billy. What I have to do here will probably involve some strange sex. That’s what this couple does. I’m trying to prepare myself for that.”

“You aren’t going to participate…you are out of your mind, Blaine. They are probably diseased. I won’t let you, you can count on that.”

“I don’t think you can stop it. I’m going to let it be known that I am looking for something…different. I will arrange to meet them once I know who they are and where they stay.”

Billy blinked his eyes rapidly, “Here, let’s get you dressed.”

“If they don’t kill me I’m going to kill them.”

Billy slipped his pants over his hips and let him zip and button. He held the shirt for him to put his arms into . Blaine stood resting his arms around Billy’s neck while he slipped a belt around his waist.

“If you think, I’m going to let you be a part of something like that, risk your life for absolutely nothing that has to do with you then you are very mistaken, my love.” He tested the waist to make sure it wasn’t too tight. “You’ve buttoned your shirt up wrong.” He began unbuttoning Blaine’s shirt.

“Don’t tell Mandi anything.”

“There won’t be anything to tell. I’m going to buy her a gun and if she has to I will tell her to use it on you.”

“What did you think we were doing here?”

“Not going around fucking weirdoes.” Billy looked him in the eye and adjusted his collar for him. “Do you want the stock, nice silk piece will set off the shirt.”

“I want the silk. You don’t understand, Billy. This has nothing to do with you or Mandi. This I do for my Uncle, the one I fucked over once and sent to prison. I tried to take his place but Ali stopped all that and got him out. Now he’s dead. Somebody sent this couple to China posing as students. They seduced him and gained his trust and then they poisoned him. I want to know why and who. That’s why I’m here. I will find out the answers to my questions. I’ll let them take me but I’m not an innocent. I do know what they are capable of.”

Billy thought about choking him with the silk  that he tied expertly around his neck and tucked into his shirt. “You went to sleep with your hair wet.” He fished a comb out of his pocket and combed Blaine’s hair.

“Are you listening to me?” Blaine asked.

“Slip your foot in here.” He held a soft leather loafer. “Mandi’s down in the bar getting drunk” he stood up and held Blaine’s jacket. “That’s what you’ve accomplished today, aren’t you proud?”

Blaine looked away to the side.

“Let’s go down and can see what you can rescue there. Don’t worry, I won’t tell her…you did say she was a trained killer.” He handed Blaine his two canes.

Blaine walked up behind her and caught her eye in the mirror behind the bar, “Hello beautiful.”

She took a drink, “Hello to you. I was wondering if you were coming down or what.”

“Or what? Of course . I wouldn’t leave you alone here in the bar. Not my fiancé.”

“I wish you hadn’t said that. I’m not sure I want to be.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“Disappointed. You’ve stepped out of character at least I hope you have.”

“I haven’t changed, Mandi. Don’t take everything so seriously. It was all a bit of fun. I still love you as much as ever do you still love me?” he took a sip of the drink  the bartender handed him.

“Of course I love you.”

“Nothing will ever part us…say it.”

“Nothing will ever part us…oh David.” She rested her head against him.

Chapter 2

The next morning Blaine wasn’t feeling well. It wasn’t just his back, it was a general malaise that had set in. He  didn’t want his breakfast and complained of a headache and stomach upset. Billy went to find Quang who came at once from his room downstairs. Blaine had a fever.

Mandi chewed her nails, “I’ve never known him to be sick, not like this, not with fever.”

“You’re not going to set the hotel ablaze with that stinking herb are you?”

“No. No more moxa. You go away and I see to him.”

Billy looked at Mandi, ”I’m not sure I like that.”

They went out of the bedroom and into the lounge area. Mandi went over to Blaine’s laptop. “He was on here last night.”

“Are you prying?” Billy walked over and looked over her shoulder.

“Yes, I am.” She looked around and grinned.

“I don’t suppose you read Chinese characters?”

“No way but there is an attachment.” She opened it.

“Oh my God.” She leaned into the computer screen.

“That must be the couple. He was waiting on pictures.”

“He is beautiful, wow.”

“Don’t get any ideas, Mandi.”

“Are we sure we want David to see this?”

“Hmm he is a hottie.”

Mandi grinned and poked him in the ribs. “Don’t you get any ideas.”

“It makes you wonder why these two beautiful evil people would search out a practically unknown member of the Chairman’s  party and from what I’ve seen , not a particularly attractive man, for unconventional sex.”

“Money?”

“Oh most assuredly money was involved. But why kill him?”

“They were paid to kill him.”

“That’s what Blaine believes.”

“Then there is something else going on. We have to find who they were working for.”

“Yes, that’s what he wants to do.”

“He’s sick in bed now.” They exchanged a look.

“Yes.”

“You were going shopping today.”

“Still am, want to tag along?”

“I thought you’d never ask. Let’s have a word with Quang. Maybe he can keep David down today.”

How Billy was able to find out where to buy a gun was beyond her.  But she held the little hand gun liking the feel of it in her hand. She went out back of the shop and fired it making sure it would shoot straight. She hit her target dead on.

“Remind me not to ever piss you off.” Billy examined the target she’d hit.

“I was always good.” She said nonchalantly. “Aren’t you going to get one?”

“No, I’m not licensed to carry. I’m going shopping for cane’s next.

“Well, I have an illegal gun so a license is not going to impress anyone is it?” She dropped it in her purse.

An antique emporium in downtown Palermo supplied four different canes. One had a hidden gun in workable condition and the others were equipped with swords and one with a knife.

“I can’t see him with this, I really can’t.” Mandi carefully laid one on the back seat of the limo.

“I can. I told you he felt vulnerable. This will be a boost, I think.”

“Is he in danger, Billy?”

“I don’t know…not yet anyway and not at all if I can help it.”

“Don’t leave me out, I’m not without resources you know.”

Billy reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know about some of your resources.”

“That is not what I was talking about. I am or was an intelligence agent. I speak the language here and I think I’m pretty well set to do something. I just need to be pointed in the right direction.”

“We need to know where this couple lives or hangs out. Going around with a picture and asking questions is not  a good idea.”

“I wouldn’t consider such a thing. David knows, he’s had that email.”

“Get him to tell you.” Billy glanced over at her.

Billy left his new purchases in the lounge and followed Mandi into the bedroom.

“How are you, darling?” Mandi sat on the side of the bed holding his hand.

“I may have strep throat, there is a doctor coming later to examine me. Quang found a hotel doctor and he was of little help.”

“Ohh that’s bad, contagious is it?” Billy asked.

“Yes, while there is fever.”

“No kisses,” Mandi pouted.

“No kisses, sorry.”

“We’ve been shopping and I’ve got a gun. Billy bought you some nasty looking canes. Antique weaponry.”

“Why do you need a gun, Mandi?”

“I don’t know yet,” she smiled, “I saw the pictures on your laptop. Did you get an address too?”

David looked at her a moment, “If I did it’s not for you to know. Leave my laptop alone.”

She kissed her fingers and placed them on his lips. “I’ll let you rest a while, when is the new doc coming?” She rose from the bed and glanced at Billy.

“I do not know, sometime this afternoon.”

“Can I get you anything?” Billy asked.

“No, I did not need this right now.” He reached for a glass of water.

“Quang couldn’t help you this time eh?” Billy asked.

“I asked for a doctor. What he is doing for my back is something else entirely. He is treating more than my physical pain. I know you don’t believe and sometimes I have a problem there too but the mind is a powerful thing, Billy. I have had visions and reoccurring dreams and I do believe I will walk again.”

“Of course you will. You walked to me on the yacht. It was only a couple of baby steps but you have to start somewhere. I know we all scoffed at therapy but they had you on a treadmill reminding your legs what they were supposed to be doing. You’ll do it Blaine, I believe in you.” He held Blaine’s hand.

“Quang has brought the doctor.” Mandi announced. Quang had been sitting down in the lobby waiting for him to arrive. She withdrew back into the lounge. A few minutes later Billy joined her.

“You aren’t sitting in attendance,” she asked checking her phone.

“Quang is in there. For all else he does do that satisfactorily. He is not a happy camper.”

“Oh I know he isn’t. Poor lamb…got it.”

“What are you doing?”

“He will find out later and he’ll just have to forgive me. I’ve forwarded the message he had from Chi to my phone. Now all I have to do is find a translator.” She smiled broadly. “I’m sure here at the Hilton that can be arranged.” Mandi disappeared to find that translator.

Billy felt in his pocket, yes he still had the keys to the limo at least she wouldn’t be leaving…unless she got a taxi. He left to find her.

Quang listened to the heavily accented English for how to dispense the medications the doctor was leaving for Blaine. He had fallen into the role of caretaker for Blaine and he wasn’t sure when he had begun to care but he had. The man had a tremendous obstacle to overcome and he had it within himself to overcome it. He just needed guidance and faith. He had exceeded his own orders to watch and observe and report by becoming involved in his path to wholeness of body and mind. Blaine had not led him to the murderous couple as yet but he would. Of that Quang was certain.

“It doesn’t look like a very prosperous section of the city,” Mandi observed through the window of the limo.

“No it doesn’t and I fear the presence of this vehicle is going to draw attention to us. We should find a place to park it and take taxis about.”

“I think you’re right, Billy. Find us a nice trattoria and park it.” She took several pictures with her phone.

“Times are rough all over if the price of murder has gone down. Look at that, garbage in the street.”

“Could all be a front, inside might be gold fixtures and designer leather sofas.”

“Hmm, like the crumbling houses of Venice.”

“You’ve been to Venice?”

“Yes, I was there for a drunken weekend once, some sort of festival I was glad to get home.”

“Where is home for you, Billy?”

“London. I had a flat mate for awhile but we broke up. I was kind of in limbo when I was notified of a request for my services. I gave up the flat so home for me now is with Blaine.”

“Same for me. My home is with him. That looks like a good place, nice cars in the carpark.”

Billy parked the limo.

They set out on foot back towards the neighborhood where the couple was known to live. Mandi dressed in a short ruffled skirt and tall black boots did attract attention as she walked. She covered her eyes with large dark glasses.

They waited at a street corner for the light to change and she glanced over at a truck stopped at the light with music blasting. “It’s him,” she nudged Billy.

Billy grabbed her in a tight embrace and pulled her skirt up exposing her bottom to the driver of the truck. He raced his motor and whistled.

Mandi was aware of what he was doing but…he’d kissed her and very well too.

He still held her close to him, “he’s turning around, and do something.”

She grabbed his crotch.

There were a lot of comments and cheers from the passersby.

“You like a good time, eh?” he said in Italian as he pulled up to the curb.

Chapter 3

Mandi and Billy sat in the car in silence. They’d walked back from the encounter with Ramon Kokolos. They had an invitation to a ‘party’. Mandi looked down at the scribbled address in her hand.

“We should toss it out the window.” She said.

“Blaine would go. In fact he’s planning on going with these two.”

“No, no he can’t.”

“What do you want to do, Mandi? I’m up for it, I’ll go.”

“Really? Well then, I’m up for it too. We stay together…don’t eat or drink anything because…well we don’t know do we?”

“No, we don’t. All we know for sure is that they poisoned Blaine’s uncle. Makes a nice…Oh,” he sighed.

Billy drove them in silence back to the hotel. Their bravado seemingly left behind somewhere in the mean streets of Palermo.

“Not  a word of this to Blaine.” Billy cautioned.

“Don’t worry.” She said quickly.

Blaine had slept away most of the day but now he was awake and his throat was at its worst. He could barely swallow the water beside his bed. He rang Billy’s room and then Mandi’s…nobody home. He wasn’t very pleased about that. He thought someone should have been there watching out for him. He’d had his antibiotics and something for the fever but for now the fever still had him in its clutches.

He sat up in the bed, his canes were against a chair a few feet from the bed but he couldn’t reach them. He was frustrated and uncomfortable. He called Quang’s room.

“Where is Billy or Mandi?” he croaked.

“Gone out.” Quang replied.

“I need…I need some help.”

“I come.”

Quang had him back in bed with a tray of food by the time Billy and Mandi came in.

Blaine was playing about in the soup and soft pudding. He hadn’t an appetite but was hungry all the same. He was also feeling sorry for himself.

“How are you, darling?” Mandi swept into the room figuring she was in trouble and decided to make the best of it. They had been gone too long and she knew it.

“Not good,” he croaked.

“You don’t’ sound good at all.” She went over and sat on the side of the bed. He’d had a bit of soup but not much. She picked up the spoon and began to feed him not asking if he wanted anymore or not. He ate the soup and the pudding.

“You poor baby,” she said and kissed his forehead. “Still too hot. I’m so sorry you are sick.”

“Where..?”

“Just out for a sightseeing tour. Billy’s here in the other room. Billy…David wants you.”

“Don’t go.”

“No, no of course not darling.”

“Here you are, brought you a drink.” Billy handed him a whiskey.

“Is he supposed to drink with his meds?”

“Worst it can do is put him out. You wouldn’t mind that would you love, make you feel better.”

“Yes,” Blaine took the drink.

Billy gave him a sponge bath and some clean pajamas. Mandi painted his toenails green. They pampered and petted him for two hours. Quang came back to give him his medicine. Finally he went to sleep. They tucked him in lovingly and tiptoed out of his room. Mandi noticed the laptop screen had Dell dancing all over it but didn’t think what that meant. She and Billy quietly closed the door to Blaine’s suite.

The taxi dropped them off in front of the apartment building. Mandi checked the apartment number again on her phone before starting up the stairs. They each had a bottle of water hoping to ward off any offer of drinks.

They were welcomed  with hugs and kisses as if they were old friends. Mandi was still stuck by the man’s beauty. He in turn flirted with her and Billy. So did Sophia who turned out to be his wife or so they said. Soon another hapless couple arrived. Mandi found out they were from Iceland. Both with white blond hair and blue eyes. Tall and muscular and backpacking through Europe. The Icelander’s spoke some English as did Ramon and Sophia. Mandi didn’t let on that she was fluent in Italian. There were harmless looking snacks and bottles of wine. Mandi stuck with her water and so did Billy but the Icelanders had a glass of wine. After awhile Billy said there didn’t seem to be any drugs in the wine. Mandi still would not touch it.

It was a nice enough apartment. Clean and nicely furnished. They had a good sound system going. Ramon was trying to get the blond girl to dance with him. Mandi picked up her bottle of water and took a drink. Sophia was at her side.

“He is good, No?”

“Yes, he’s a good dancer.”

“You um come from England?”

“Yes I do.”

“And your partner is also from England, from London?”

“Yes, he’s a good friend, not my partner.”

“Ah,” she laughed, “Good friends. You are here for vacation?”

“Um, yes we are. Are you a native…from Palermo?”

“Oh no we are from Athens.”

“Really, how did you end up here?”

“Oh you know, work.”

“What kind of work do you do?” Mandi asked aware the woman had moved closer to her, she could smell the musky scent she wore.

“Sometimes I am a model.”

Mandi took another drink from her bottle and wondered where Billy was.  Ramon was talking to him on the other side of the room. The two Icelanders were at the snacks. Suddenly the tall blond man was talking to her and she was warm, too warm, much too warm.

Billy felt an uncomfortable bulge in his pants and looked down, how had he got that way…what…he was there again with those strange eyes, much too close. The blond woman wanted to dance with him. The music was too loud…

It was nearly dawn when Billy woke in the unfamiliar room on an unfamiliar bed without his clothes. He wasn’t alone on the bed which was a large round affair with huge red lips for a headboard. Mandi was sprawled at the other side as naked as he was. He moved over cautiously for his head was pounding.

“Mandi, Mandi wakeup.”

Mandi rolled over on her stomach. She made a muffled sound.

Billy looked around the room and noticed the large photographer’s lights stationed around the room. Realization hit him. They’d been drugged and photographed doing God only knew what because he couldn’t remember any of it. “The dirty buggers.”

“What do you mean they didn’t come back, where did they go?” Blaine asked through his tortured throat.

“They find your murderers.” Quang answered.

Blaine sat quietly for a moment letting the anger wash over him. Anger at Quang for not telling him, anger at Mandi and Billy for going, anger at himself for bringing them along. And then anger for his situation. Sick, broken…bloody useless. Anger with Chi for bringing this to him in the first place. Anger was soon replaced by anxiety for Billy and Mandi.

“I have to go.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed, pulled himself up using the bedside table and he reached for his canes. He found his clothes and dressed himself. Quang watched him silently from the doorway. Blaine looked at him as he walked toward him using his canes and Quang’s face held no expression.

The keys to the limo were in the other room by the computer. He turned to Quang, “You know where they are don’t you?” He leaned his cane against his legs and grabbed Quang by his shirt. “Then you take me to them.”

Fear grew as he manhandled the big car through the still darkened streets. Quang sat beside of him in silence. “If something has…has happened to them…then you.” He looked deadly toward Quang.

They arrived at the apartment building and Blaine parked right in front of the door unmindful of the diagonal lines painted on the street.  Once inside he looked up at the towering stairs and his heart sank. Quang tugged at his sleeve and pointed to a freight elevator. He stared at the floor as the elevator lumbered up to the 5^th floor. Resolve building inside of him with each lurch and grind. He tested the sword cane and looked up into Quang’s gaze.

Blaine had an aversion to elevators since his accident but he didn’t think about it now. All he could think about was Mandi and Billy. He wrestled the doors open and moved down the hallway and around a corner where he came to 52H.  He hit the door with his cane and it came open. Sword exposed he walked in leaning on one cane. Quang hung back  in the doorway. A sound turned him down the hallway and he hit a door with his cane again it came open this time on Mandi and Billy.

They were alive that was the first thing. Billy held Mandi and they were both crying a little.

“Blaine,” Billy looked up.

He looked from one to the other, “Billy?”

“We’re okay I think. She’s, she’s been bitten and sodomized.”

Blaine blanched. He turned around and went down the hall looking for something to kill. He was too late. The beautiful evil couple lay on their bed as if in sleep except for the drop of blood on their breasts. Quang had disappeared.

It wasn’t enough. He went through their apartment destroying telephones, cameras, a computer and two laptops. He could only hope the films had not made the internet.

Meanwhile, Billy had found their clothes and they were nearly dressed when Blaine came back into the room still carrying the sword in his hand.

“What have you done?” Billy asked him.

“Not enough, I only killed electronics…someone else beat me to the prize.”

Mandi stood up and went to him. He caught her in his arm dropping the sword and hugged her.

“Mandi,”

“David, I’m sorry.”

He hugged her tightly. “Let’s get you to a hospital, you too, Billy.”

Billy found Mandi’s handbag and picked up Blaine’s sword cane. He followed them down the hallway to the elevator. As he stepped inside of it he noticed for the first time that Blaine was walking with one cane. He’d had an arm around Mandi but he walked. He didn’t say anything about it for obviously Blaine didn’t know what he was doing.

Once the elevator started to move Blaine looked into Billy’s eyes. He was crying and Billy started crying too. All three of them had a go before it reached the bottom floor. Outside a policeman was writing a parking ticket. Blaine walked over to him and took it from him tearing it in half.

“Go up to the 5^th floor, apartment 52H. There are two dead people up there.” He opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat.

Chapter 4

They were back at the hotel after Mandy and  Billy had been checked out. There were no physical injuries serious enough for anything but antibiotics for bites.  The thing that bothered Billy was he was afraid he was the one that had done the things to Mandi. It could have been the Icelander for he’d found a man’s watch by the bed when looking for their clothes. No sign of the other couple and he thought they must have awakened earlier and ran.

He’d been used too but he discounted that. He’d been used before. Two bites on his thighs did not match up with Mandi’s teeth. It was all a nightmare and he was glad he couldn’t remember it. So far Blaine had been nothing but relieved and solicitous but he had a feeling he was in for it when Blaine was ready.

They had taken baths and Mandi was asleep in her bed. Billy wanted to be asleep in his but he stopped by Blaine’s room; after all he was still sick with strep throat and Quang had disappeared from the hotel.

“Do you need anything, Blaine?”

Blaine was sitting out on the balcony with a glass of orange juice and a cigarette which Billy knew he didn’t need.

“I need an explanation from you. I want to know what the hell you were doing there with Mandi. Why did you take her to such a place knowing what these people were?”

“It was both of us decided to go. I had already decided to go with or without her.”

“Rubbish.”

“No, I only had in mind to see what they were about. Neither of us ate or drank anything there but we had bottles of water and somehow a drug was introduced into our bottles.

“Of course what did you expect? They had quite an operation going there. Luring tourists into their lair and drugging them and making porno movies for the internet. The police detective said this was not the first complaint they’ve had about the couple. But they moved frequently and they weren’t able to track them. They made money  by showing the movies to the victims and extorting money from them to keep it off the net. Then by selling the films. I have an idea that my uncle saw through their scam and refused to cooperate and so they killed him either by accident or on purpose.”

“You don’t think they were working for someone else?”

“No, I don’t. It turns out my uncle was in Athens and that’s where he met them. They followed him back to China posing as students but they  had him hooked on sex. I understand it all now. There was a second message from Chi that Mandi didn’t capture. He had a little more information . So you see where I am with this.”

“I’m sorry,  Blaine. You’ve a right to fire me on the spot and send me packing.”

“I also have the right to chew your ass a little.”

“Yes, Sir , you do.” Billy stood  with his hands behind his back waiting.

“I understand you were used rather badly too. How are you, will you be all right?”

“Yes, I suppose I will. I’ve probably had worse in my life. A few days and I’ll be right as rain.”

Blaine looked down  at the little ornate wrought iron table and turned his orange juice around. “I’m not going to let you go. I couldn’t fire you, Billy. I know what you were trying to do, you and Mandi but it will not do in the future. I realized  today how much a part of my life you and Mandi are. I love you both but I will not have you putting yourself at risk for me again. I am the boss man, I am the captain and you wait for an order from me before taking off on your own is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir, it is.”

“I’m depending on you for Mandi is a woman.”

“That she is,” Billy smiled a little.

“It is up to us to protect her.”

“Right, Sir.” Billy dropped his head.

“What is it, Billy?”

“I don’t’ know but what it wasn’t’ me that…I don’t’ know because I have no memory of last night after the big blond woman had me dancing. To think that I might have hurt her…I care a great deal for Mandi.”

“I have witnessed that feeling growing and developing and it makes me happy. It wasn’t you, Billy.” Blaine smiled. “Go and get some rest, I know you must still be feeling the effects of the drug.”

“I am a bit…but, Blaine, you walked today. Still with a cane but you were walking.”

“Amazing isn’t it.” Blaine smiled.

“Where’s the little…where is Quang?”

“I have no idea. I think he’s done what he came here to do and he is gone now.”

“But your back, don’t you still need treatments?”

“I don’t know, so far so good the only thing that’s bothering me now is my throat. I’ve done enough talking.” He finished his juice.

“Right-o. Well, I’m off for a lie down. If you need me…”

“I won’t go and have your rest.”

Blaine sat on the balcony for a little while longer and then got up and walked into the room. He had one cane he was using. He hadn’t been able to put the sword one back together yet. Maybe tomorrow Billy would fix it. He picked up his bottle of pills and took one with a swallow of water. The door was partially open to Mandi’s room. It still boiled up inside of him when he thought of her, that someone would hurt her and ill use her. He didn’t blame Billy if it was him no it was Kokolos. He’d looked at his picture long enough on the message from Chi and in person he was beautiful even in death. He deserved to be dead.

 He moved into her room and sat in a chair by her bed. Mandi had saved him, after his accident in the elevator had paralyzed him from the waist down. She literally had saved him by loving him and accepting him as he was. He felt badly now that he had used her himself, her and Billy. Forcing them into a situation they didn’t feel comfortable in. All to prepare himself for something that didn’t happen. He’d been selfish and he wished now that he could take it back.

She moved in the bed as if sensing his presence. He hesitated a moment and lay down beside her. She snuggled against him. He held her protectively in his arms and she settled back into a deep sleep.

“Never again, love.” He whispered lightly in her ear. “I love you.”

Mandi woke hours later to find David in her bed on top of the coverlet. She reached over and smoothed his hair out of his face. That face that she loved so. His eyes fluttered and opened.

“Hey, good looking.” She said and smiled. “What are you doing in my bed.”

He didn’t move. “Loving you.”

“Are you angry with me?” she asked.

“I was for about five minutes. No, not anymore. I am thankful that you are here with me. I’m going to do a better job of looking after you.”

“I don’t need looking after, I’m pretty capable of looking…” his fingers closed over her mouth.

“No…you are not.” He said softly.

Her hand closed over his and she kissed his hand, “I don’t think I like Sicily.”

“Only two more days here and we’ll be back on the Medea. I haven’t decided where we will go yet. I contacted Margret and she and Lyssa are in Scotland”

“Scotland whatever for is she working there?”

“No, visiting a relative. She is a good grandmother.”

“The best.”

“Think about where you would like to go?”

“Will you be well in two days?”

“Well enough. The yacht has been cleaned and stores are going aboard now. I am as anxious to get off this island as you are.”

“David, what happened to Quang, did he kill that couple?”

“I believe he did. I think he did it with a needle. Tiny pinprick and a drop of blood that was all that was visible. A needle to the heart.”

“I don’t understand who he was?”

“ He was a spy.”

“You never knew? I should have spotted him, I’m slipping.”

“I knew there was more to him than acupuncture.”

She rolled over on her back, “I don’t think I’ve eaten today.”

“We’ll call room service unless you want to go down.”

“No, I don’t . I’d like to eat out on your balcony. Is Billy around?”

“He went to bed some time ago, before I came in here.”

“He’s really upset, he thinks he is the one that attacked me.”

“Was it an attack?”

“I don’t know, I don’t remember any of it. Somebody bit me all over...It was awful,” she buried her face in his chest.

“Don’t talk about it, put it out of your mind. It is over”

“I feel unclean.”

“You are precious and I love you.”

“Did we call room service?” she turned to him and asked.

“ROOM SERVICE!” he yelled and she laughed.

Chapter 5

“What do you think?”  Mandi asked Billy as they waited on the dock for the okay to board the Medea. “I mean about him?”

Billy glanced over at her, “He’s more like himself, as though a weight has been lifted.”

“Hmm, yes. He’s taken charge don’t you feel that?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t think what it must cost him, he hasn’t complained about his pain once since Quang disappeared..”

“He still likes a massage.”

“I don’t’ blame him,” she smiled.

Blaine walked back to where they were standing. He had two canes but did not put the weight on them that he did when they arrived. It was like he had decided to live again. Pain? Yes but  it did not rule him. He hadn’t received a miracle at all he had, as Quang had suggested, learned to put his pain in a box and close it up. He had to walk and so he did. Each step brought strength to his legs and he had already decided when he got home again he would pay more attention to the therapist.

However, they weren’t headed home, at least not yet. While their luggage was transferred from the limo to the yacht David Looked  back toward the city of Palermo. He’d left something here and he didn’t think he’d be back to pick it up. No more would he put himself and his ‘family’ at risk for those in China who would use him for their own means.

He had realized what was important to him and it wasn’t the family in China who did not love him, it was the family he’d formed with Margret Langston, Mandi and Billy. He and Lyssa were not alone they were surrounded by people who loved them. He felt Mandi at his side and slipped an arm around her.

“When are you going to tell us where we’re going?” She asked him.

“I waited patiently for you or Billy to tell me where you wanted to go and no answer came. So I have decided we are to sail to Scotland and pick up Margret Langston and Lyssa. Then we’ll go home.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” she smiled up at him. “I miss her.”

“So do I,” he replied. “That’s all? Well let us board The Medea.” He led the way with Billy close behind him in case he faltered on the ramp. He never faltered.

“Good morning, Sir,” he was greeted by the crew. “Perhaps you’d like to go below, we have refined the lift chair for you.”

“Thank you,” he replied and walked over to where the chair was waiting. “I think I shall stay on deck until we are underway.”

“Very good, Sir.”

He looked longingly up at the wheel. It was positioned above the Dining room. “Someday,” he said under his breath.

Billy went down to his cabin to get everything put right for him and Mandi remained at his side. She sensed that he wanted her there.

Everything was made ready and the yacht began to move. Blaine moved to the benches underneath the canvas and sat down. Mandi went with him. As she sat beside of him watching the shore retreat she became very aware of him, the warmth from his body, the solid strength of his arms. She could smell the faint scent from his massage oils still lingering on his skin and she wondered if he had any idea how much she loved him.

He turned to her and looked into her eyes, “Tears?”

“Oh, no.” she shrugged and looked away.

His thigh pressed against hers. He’d not touched her other than to kiss her or hug her since her ordeal. It had been three days and the bite marks were still there fading now, yellow and purple. He’d slept with her the first night but only to comfort her. She was ready for him now but would not instigate sex with him. He would when he was ready.

He took her hand, “Let us turn our eyes toward the sea”

“Yes,” her fingers laced with his.

For him, turning his eyes toward the sea meant leaving everything behind that he’d brought to the island. The breeze played in his hair and he smiled slightly and squeezed her hand. “We’ve got a long journey ahead with many stops along the way. I cannot understand why you are still with me after what I’ve put you through.”

“You haven’t…”

“Yes, yes I have. If at any time you wish to go I will understand.”

“I don’t want to go. I want to be with you.”

His eyes lingered with hers for a moment, unreadable.

A little shiver of fear ran through her, what did he mean by that? She had been so sure of his love for her and all of a sudden she wasn’t. Did he want her to go? Many thoughts ran though her mind, perhaps he had been repelled by what she’d been through with the marks still on her body. Maybe it was Billy, she’d seen them together, and maybe that’s what he wanted now, something she could not give. She sat quietly at his side.

Billy joined them on deck, “Got it all sorted,” he smiled.

Blaine’s eyes softened, “Sit with us.”

“Glad to see the back end of this island. Where is our first stop?”

“Palma De Mallorca, Spain.” Blaine answered.

“Nice…are we spending any time there?”

“Only a few hours and then back through the Straits and into the Atlantic.”

“Somebody did a damn good job cleaning the yacht. No lingering smell of those noxious herbs. Where do you reckon the little fella is now, Blaine?”

“No idea. He does not interest me any longer.”

Mandi heard those words and looked toward the distant islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Perhaps that was it, she did not interest him any longer. It had been a long three and a half weeks. She hadn’t her toys to play with him and excite him. He’d tired of her. He preferred Billy’s massages…

“I think I could do with a cuppa, how about you Blaine, Mandi?”

“Yes,” Blaine looked toward her.

“No, I think I’ll go to my cabin and…and get it sorted out.”

“Right-o” Billy went toward the galley and Blaine watched Mandi go into the lounge and down the steps.

Mandi unpacked her clothes  and changed into comfortable knits. She felt like she needed comfort and went down the hall to the crew’s quarters and begged a cup of tea from a crew member. Back in her room with her tea she sat on her bed with her legs crossed and sipped it slowly. She was trying to imagine her life without Blaine. She could get her old job back that wouldn’t be a problem at all. Cramer would love it.

She would miss Lyssa, her charge for the last ten months. Sweet little innocent, but she would miss her father more. He’d gotten to her like no one else. She hadn’t been able to shake him before and she doubted that she would again. Work would help. She would get Cramer to send her far away.

It occurred to her that she’d only known him disabled. His disabilities were becoming less and less. Perhaps independence would be the end of them.  She finished her tea and made thin braids of hair around her face adding a few beads from a broken bracelet. It was something to do and it kept her in her cabin.

She napped a little and when she woke and looked out her porthole, it was dark. No one had come for her all afternoon. She heard a door open and close and she opened hers, it was Billy with one of Blaine’s thick sweaters in his hand.

“Mandi, I wondered what had become of you and checked earlier, you were asleep. Feeling okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” She looked at the sweater.

“You won’t believe where he is, he’s in the wheel house, yes…he’s steering the boat. I had to help of course, to get him up the ladder and a crew member helped also but he’s smiling from ear to ear.”

Mandi smiled at the thought, “Good for him.”

“Coming up?”

“Have I missed dinner?”

“Oh no, love, it’s only 4:30. There are storm clouds about that makes it look darker.” He looked at her closely, “Mandi, something is not right with you, what is it?”

“Nothing, Billy, nothing for you to worry about.”

He pushed her back into her cabin and shut the door. “Tell me.”

“Oh…I’m afraid I’m losing him.” She bit her lip. “I think he’d be quite happy if I got off this yacht and didn’t get back on. He’s lost interest in  me.”

“You have no idea how wrong you are. Why would you think such a thing?”

“I don’t know it just, he doesn’t need me any longer. He’s offered me a way out I see that now. I think I’m going to take it.”

He lay the sweater on her bed and took her in his arms, “No, no, love. You’ve got it wrong. He loves you, Mandi.”

She placed a finger on his lips, “He loves you more, Billy. And that’s okay I can understand that. I love you too.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “You’d better get that up to him before he freezes. He’s so cold natured you know.”

“Yes, well…” he looked at her with a worried expression on his face. “Don’t do anything foolish, Mandi. I will not let you out of my sight in Mallorca,”

“Don’t worry, I don’t think I could swim to the mainland.”

“That’s my girl, you need to have a talk with him and clear the air.”

“Please don’t say anything to him. I will…I’d like to be the one that brings it up.”

“All right. Coming up top with me?”

“In a little while.” She smiled. He kissed her cheek and left her.

Billy couldn’t think where she’d gotten such a wild idea. He knew Blaine loved Mandi he’d said as much to him and more. He shook his head and went up the steps.

They’d brought him down from the wheel house and he came into the lounge for a drink.

“She handles like a dream, responds to my touch like…like a woman should,” he smiled and took a drink from his glass.

Billy laughed with him, “I ‘m glad we got you up there to try her out. I knew you wanted to.”

“Oh, I did.” He took another drink, “Where’s Mandi?”

“Um, in her cabin I just spoke with her.”

“Is she ill?”

“No, no she isn’t ill.” Billy couldn’t look at him.

Blaine stared at Billy for a moment, “Then what is it?”

“It’s not for me to say. You need to talk with her.”

“It is for you to say, why send me blindly into something I know nothing about. If it’s not physical then it’s something else. Is it to do with what happened in Palermo?”

“I’m not prepared to say what brought this on. I think you should talk to her. She’s…she’s talking of leaving us.”

“No.” he set his drink down and felt for his canes. For the first time he tried out his new chair lift. An automated affair. He only had to push a button and it moved up and down.

Mandi heard the chair lift come down and found her nail file to have something in her hands when he came…if he came.”

Blaine opened her door not bothering to knock. He closed it behind him and leaned against it. “You would leave me?”

Billy! She swallowed. “I think it might be best.”

“Why?’

“You’re on your feet so to speak. I served my purpose and Billy is there for you. I’m like a fifth wheel here. You don’t need me any longer. Like you said there will be many stops and I can  find some transport back to England to collect my things.”

“Then you lied to me. I thought I read you so well, I heard you say the words and I believed them. I believed that you loved me.  Ali once told me that women will break your heart. It is better not to get too involved with them. He was right. Every woman I have ever loved has broken me.”

“No, David…I do love you…” she panicked.

“If you loved me you could not think about leaving me.”

“I thought you’d tired of me and it was time for me to go.”

“What nonsense is this. Have I not loved you daily?”

“You offered me an out today, to leave you.”

“”It is what you were waiting for. I am a broken man. I will never be right again. I may walk but I will have my limitations. It was fun for you…maybe a perversion of which I have been used. And if so I do not care. I have supped it up. I opened myself to you as to no other save Ali. I’ve loved you, Mandi.”

“I’ve loved you, I do love you. You’ve taken this the wrong way. I only thought about leaving because I thought you…I told you today I wanted to stay with you. I do, David, I do.”

He shook his head slightly. “I cannot trust you.” He opened the door and staggered out. To his own cabin he went and closed the door behind him.

Mandi burst into tears. How had it gone so wrong?

Chapter 6

“This is absolutely ridiculous, Blaine. She’s in her cabin crying her eyes out and here you are doing the same in yours. Why don’t you get together.” Billy had come down to tell them dinner was ready thinking to find them in one or the other’s cabin making love and found this.

“No, I’m through. I tried...God I tried.”

“Bollocks, Blaine. She loves you.”

“No, she was going to leave. Were you going to leave me?”

“No, no.”

“She was. She didn’t love me.”

“She is upset. I think we need to let this die down a little and then have a heart to heart. I know how she feels for you so don’t try and sell me that line.”

“You don’t know anything. My father died and later my mother sent me away. She didn’t love me. She was all I had, Billy. I protected myself pretty good through the years. There was Ali. We knew from the beginning how that would end. He would be forced to marry. Still…I loved him. That love has never wavered between us. Many years and many things have happened but if he came in here today it would be as if he’d never left me. Then came Charlie. I loved her and we had a child, Lyssa. She left me in death. And now Mandi. She saved me, Billy. When I was in a wheelchair. She kept me from despair. I loved her. I do love her but she is prepared to leave me too. I look at you and I wonder…how long it will be before he leaves me. What is it that drives people away? Why am I so revolting?”

“You’re not revolting. You are beautiful, Blaine. You draw people to you and they love you. I can’t answer for your mother. You cannot blame Charlie for her own death.”

“I don’t blame Charlie. It was up and down for us too. She was never comfortable with what I am. I did love her very much.”

“I don’t doubt that you did. You have a great capacity for love. You have a capacity for forgiveness too.”

“Not anymore. Most of my life I’ve wasted time trying to forgive my mother. Even today she shows no affection for me. I’ve risked my life and the life of those I love for her but no more. Never again will I bend to their wind. I have made a choice and my choice was Lyssa and you and Mandi and Margret. My family. I…I can’t stand  this, Billy.”

Billy put his arm around Blaine. “I won’t be leaving you unless you dismiss me. As for Mandi, she doesn’t want to leave you. For some crazy reason she got it into her head that you wanted her to go. You gave her an out and she thought you meant for her to take it.”

“I never asked her to go, I never said anything to make her think I wanted her to go. I won’t beg, Billy.”

“No you won’t. But if you really love her then tell her so and tell her she is to stay with us.”

“I cannot tell her what to do. She must do what her heart commands.” Blaine let Billy hold him, he wanted to be held.

Billy loved Blaine but he couldn’t see the misery he and Mandi were causing each other. He held him, rubbing his arm, running a hand over his head and finally kissing him. Reassuring him he was loved.

“I came down here to see if you wanted any dinner. Cook’s done a nice roast beef. Why not get yourself together and come and have a meal with me. Will you?” he kissed his forehead.

“Yes.” Was his reply and he did. He washed his face and straightened his clothes. He passed by Mandi’s door without a second look.

They reached Mallorca in three days. Mandi had mostly stayed below in her cabin. She went up when she knew Blaine was in his. She was avoiding him completely. That all came to a halt when the yacht docked at Palma de Mallorca.

She ran into him in the hallway. She had her bag packed with what she wanted to keep and was dragging it out of her room.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“There’s a small airstrip on the island. I can get a flight over to Madrid and then to England.”

He flinched.

“I’m sorry…I don’t want to be a bother to you. I thought it would be better to get off here. More comfortable for you.”

“For me? I haven’t seen you in three days. That has not made me comfortable.”

“I don’t think there is much comfort in this.”

“No. Do you need some help with your bag?”

“I can manage.”

“I cannot believe it has come to this. I don’t want you to go.”

“I don’t want to go but I think it’s time.”

“Who…who will polish my nails? Billy is not into nail polish. Last time they were green. It’s worn away.”

“David, please.”

“No more games. No more laughter. I love you, Mandi.” He said softly.

She closed her eyes.

“I need you more than ever. If you go I will never trust another woman in my lifetime. I will never love a woman again. You are my lifeline.”

“What about me, what about my lifeline. I’ve never loved this way before. It’s painful, it hurts. I’ve had enough of that. I want to know where I fit in and if you can’t tell me then I don’t belong.”

“Where you fit in? Right here in my heart. You are part of me, part of my family. You belong here with me at my side, in my heart. I love you, Mandi. Do you want to be my wife, is that it? Do you want to marry?”

“No, no…I wouldn’t ask that of you. I don’t need that piece of paper.”

“I would do that for you. That is how much you mean to me. Please do not go.”

She hesitated dropping the handle of her bag. “I was afraid you’d tired of me. Afraid I no longer excited you. Afraid it was Billy that had your love. I can’t compete with that.”

“There is no competition. I will never tire of you and as for excitement…your touch, Mandi. There is nothing to compare. We are more than that, more than sex. I think sometimes you think of me as your own personal sex toy. You play with me.”

Mandi tilted her head and looked at him. “I do play with you but I do it  out of love for you.”

He held out a hand and she took it. He pulled her to him, “You are not leaving.”

“No, I don’t think I am.” She caught him around the waist and hugged, resting her head on his chest. Tears squeezed out of the corners of her eyes. She felt his hands on her back, both of them and she looked up into his eyes and knew she could never leave him. “What was I thinking?” she whispered.

“You were not thinking at all.” He leaned on her and the wall and took the two steps to his cabin and opened the door. “Inside,” he said and she helped him through the door to the bed.

“What are you…?” she smiled  a little.

He tugged at her shirt until it came over her head and then he went for her skirt finding the zipper and  hook on the side. He ran his hands over her body looking up into her eyes. She helped him with his own clothes and once on the bed she lay on top of him. When they were ready he turned her over beneath him.

Her eyes flew open, “Don’t…oh…hurt…”

“Shhh,” he entered her. Easy and slow and she did most of the work but she could see it on his face and she loved him all the more.

Billy stood in the hallway after stepping over her bag and listened at Blaine’s door. He smiled, well then things would get back to normal now. He took her bag back into her room and unpacked it, stowing it in the little closet. A quick look around and he went up on deck. The yacht was docked now and he could go ashore. Wouldn’t be much fun on his own and for sure Blaine and Mandi wouldn’t be up for awhile.

“Going ashore?” one of the crew members asked.

“Well I…”

“Have you ever been here before? I can show you around if you’d like. I’ve got an hour or so.”

“Yes, that would be nice.” Billy smiled and slipped the jacket on he had across his arm. “I’ve never been to Spain. Feeling a might peckish do you know a nice place to eat?”

“I do,” he donned his white baseball cap and led Billy off the yacht. “They have the best wine on the island a good red, not too sweet, eh?”

Billy smiled, “Right up my street, don’t believe I caught your name?”

“César.”

“Well, César, let’s make the most of it.”

Blaine picked his watch up from the bed and looked at the time, “We’ve got a couple of hours to go ashore. Let us go.”

Mandi zipped up her skirt. “Us, what a beautiful word. Can you manage?”

He stood up and reached for his canes. "I am managing. Hurry up.”

She smiled and kissed him.

Once ashore they found a tavern for tapas and wine. Later he bought her a few trinkets in the market. They found an ancient cathedral and went inside. Mandi thought he might want to sit for awhile and so they did taking an aisle seat. After a bit he turned to her.

“I have no ring to show you how much I love you. Nothing except my words. Sometimes I am selfish and a problem, this I know for sure. But always I love you. Don’t ever doubt that, Mandi. Whatever the circumstance whether I am with Billy or with Ali there is that love for you and always that desire.”

“I promise not to doubt that again. I will always love you and I will never again even think about leaving you.”

He kissed her hand and held it for a while. “We should be getting back to The Medea. The sorceress, she calls me,” he looked at her and grinned.

“You are the sorcerer.” She kissed him and stood up. “I’m ready lets be off.”