Chapter 69

Glass walls and skylights let the stars and a sliver of moonlight into his bedroom, which was otherwise all greys and blacks. His bed was vast, and the perfect mixture of firm with soft on top and my body sank gratefully in next to him.

I reached out, feeling the warmth and smoothness of his naked torso across the soft sheets. I was about to scoot over to nestle against him when I heard deep breathing that made me pause.

I raised myself on my elbow to look and saw, to my surprise, that he was already asleep. I smiled in the semi-darkness, understanding. Our day had been intense, and the lovemaking at the end had probably put him over the edge.

Come to think of it, it had done the same for me. I looked around for a switch, and didn't see one. I shrugged and rested my head into the feather pillow, feeling the exhaustion hit me all at once. As I expected, the light was on a sensor, and slowly faded out.

After a moment my eyes adjusted to the light from the stars and the moon, and I took one more glance over a Charles, his face illuminated by the silvery glow.

Despite my horrible day, the sight of his handsome face filled me with warmth and the curve of his shoulder muscle made me think back to the bathtub. I needed to stop if I was going to get any sleep.

I closed my eyes and drifted off, trying to keep Charles in the forefront of my mind and blocking out the memories of Jessica's body.

I slept heavily and soundly, and when I woke up a blue, cool light was filtering through the vast windows. I sat up, looking at the lush carpets and velvet comforter I'd been unaware of the night before. Charles' side was cool, as if he'd been up for a while despite his pillow being creased.

I got up, and saw he'd left a white terrycloth robe on the bed at my feet. I smiled at his thoughtfulness, pulled it on, and went through the door I suspected was the bathroom from last night.

When I had showered and made sure I was presentable, I peeked around the door into the hallway and looked down the hall. It was entirely glass on one side, but trees and careful attention to landscaping made sure it was still completely private. I padded toward the living room on the plush, white carpet, enjoying the softness on my feet.

I could hear Charles' voice before I'd left the hallway, stern, commanding, telling an editor where to send reporters and how many security with which to pair them.

When I finally saw him, the combination of the vast, open room and his lean, muscular body stopped me in my tracks.

He was pacing in just his trousers, his feet bare, his torso flexing as he moved quickly back and forth, talking on his cell phone. His posture and voice were full of authority and command, and I felt myself being turned on by his raw, graceful, easy power.

I watched him for a moment, taking it all in, and then he sniffed and his head went up. He'd caught my scent. He saw me lingering in the entry between the living room and the hallway and smiled, his handsome face lighting up despite his voice not changing.

He held out a hand and I obeyed, coming down the two steps that separated the entry space from the leather couches and the glass and driftwood coffee table. He pulled me to him, wrapping me in a firm, cozy bear hug as he continued his conversation.

I leaned my head against his chest, enjoying the sensation of his skin on my face. I listened to his voice resonate in my head and there, softly underneath, was the gentle shushing thud of his heart. I wrapped my arms around him and sighed contentedly.

There was a pause in his speaking and he leaned back. "Coffee in the kitchen," he whispered, and nodded to the right.

I smiled and detached myself, going through another doorway into a large, impeccably clean kitchen. On the counter, a stainless steel Italian-style coffee maker was on the burner and I could smell the strong aroma before I'd gotten more than a foot inside the room.

Little white espresso cups sat on the counter top, and I poured myself a cup and added sugar from the stainless steel bowl that sat next to the pot.

I walked to the small table that sat in a glassed-in corner. Because we were high up it looked like one was sitting in the branches of a tree. It was only then that I saw the envelope on the counter.

I bolted up and went to it, taking it back to my seat as I carefully opened it. It was the manila envelope Jessica had given us right before she was killed. I wanted to wait for Charles, but I couldn't contain my curiosity and look quickly looked inside.

There was a single piece of paper inside and I pulled it out, trying not to feel disappointed at the sight of it. For a moment my heart sank and I felt confused, but then I turned it over and saw in the very center of the paper was a few typed lines.

Was this it? This was what Jessica died trying to give us?

I squinted at it, seeing that it was a website. I patted the pockets of my robe, realizing I'd left my phone in the bedroom. I got up and hurried through the living room and the down the hall, trying not to run, seeing Charles look up at me out of the corner of my eye as I flew past.

When I came back with my phone, I raised it and waved at his questioning look.

I sat down, took a sip of the still warm espresso, and began to type the website into the phone's browser.

A moment later Charles appeared, finally off the phone and looking at me with interest.

"What do you have?"

He sat next to me, leaning in close, watching me hit return. His eyes went to the envelope and the paper and I saw realization in his eyes.

We both sat silent, starting as a website pulled up that required a password. I looked back at the paper, and saw the second line appeared to be random numbers and symbols.

Charles noticed it and too and read them aloud for me to type into my phone. Then we waited as screen switched to a video. I hit play and the video began to play.

It appeared to be security footage or a hidden camera pointed down at a table from somewhere above. Four males sat at a table, and appeared to be speaking. Every once in a while the sound came through and a brief few words were audible, though through covered in static.

We squinted at my screen, straining to hear, but the sound seemed too compromised.

"I know a few of them," Charles said, frowning. "Those are city and government officials, and not just from our city."

"I wish we could hear what they were saying," I said. I tried rotating my phone to get a larger picture, to see if I could read their lips at all, but they remained too small.

I sighed and put down the phone as the footage cut out.

Charles tapped the table and looked at the piece of paper. He took a photo of it, sending it to his email also.

"I'm going to put this paper in my safe, and then see what I can do about this video. Jessica died to give it to us," Charles said. "It's got to be important."