To The Grave - Chapter Six by Barbara at Story write

She could barely see his cottage from where she sat, but she could see enough to know when he was home and when he wasn’t. She half toyed with the idea of sneaking into his place, but knew that he would notice any inconsistencies in a moment, regardless how good she was. 1

She bet it was a nice place, since it looked rather charming from where she sat, although she wouldn’t have suspected him to go the comfortable charming route in housing. The veranda that ran around the entire cottage seemed to add a rustic look, and the crisp white painting with deep blue trim made it blend in with it’s surrounding neighbors. 2

She knew that he had a private driveway that led to his property, along with a fence on either side that marked his beach property. Having already spotted the security measure he had on both the driveway and fences, and knew then to be top of the line, Keren was content sitting on the small deck of her rented cottage and watching Kyle Suene’s home across the cove. 3

~~~~~~~~ 4

"What are you doing?" 5

Kyle didn’t look up from his computer search. "Checking something out," he replied as he reached into the information stream, touching his fingertip against a virtual authorization code reader. A page sprung foreword, complete with a personnel file. 6

Celia sat in a chair beside him and stared into the information. "Central Access Agency Directeur Bermen?" she asked. "Why are you checking his files?" 7

He glanced at her, then back at the information. "No idea, really. Just a hunch." 8

"Oh," she replied, making it seem like it was an acceptable excuse. "You know that CAA files are tagged and that security should be here any minute." 9

"Then you best get going," Kyle replied as he touched another link, bringing up service records. When she didn’t move, he looked at her again. "There’s just something that doesn’t make sense in all this, and until I find out what it is, everyone is suspect." 10

"Including me?" 11

"I cleared you earlier," Kyle replied easily. Her reply was cut off as four members of base security strode into the main office and took up position around them. Not even bothering to look up from his search, Kyle dug into his chest pocket, took out a small card and held it up. 12

The closest security guard took it from his fingers, read it, then tossed it on the desk. "Our apologies, Commander," she said, then nodded to her team and left as quickly as they had come. 13

Celia stared after them, her mouth open in slight surprise, then reached out and grabbed the card from the desk before Kyle could pick it up. She read the information on it, then glared at him. "Level four security rating?" 14

Kyle reached out, plucked the card from her hand, and tucked it back in his pocket. "Got reactivated when I did." He went back to his search, secure in the knowledge that his security rating would allow him access to anyone and anything in the country. 15

"How did you get a level four clearance?" 16

He ignored the accusatory tone in her voice which was actually asking how a man who spent time in a mental institution had gotten the country’s highest clearance rating. "Why are you still here?" he asking instead. 17

"You’re still here." 18

He nodded. "Yeah, but I have no life. Don’t you have like, a boyfriend or something to occupy your time?" 19

"No." 20

"Girlfriend?" 21

"No." 22

"Goldfish?" 23

"Shut up." 24

He smiled slightly. "You don’t have to stick around just because I’m here." He paused for a moment to retrieve another piece of information. "I promise not to torch the place or run naked through the parade grounds." He looked confused for a second. "No, wait…I can’t promise the second one." 25

Celia smiled and shook her head in annoyance. "Actually, my boyfriend is in Montreal for a month, and the apartment is too big without him, and since I have nothing else to do, I though I would try to get some work done without someone breathing down my neck all day." 26

Kyle raised an eyebrow in interest, since this was the most she had spoken of her life in the past three days. "Who’s breathing down your neck?" 27

"Directeur Bermen." 28

"Ahhh. Ignore him." 29

"He’s my boss." 30

Kyle looked at her. "That he is." He had taken an instant dislike to Central Access Agency Directeur Bermen, not really knowing why. The man seemed too slimy to actually care about anyone but himself, and according to service records, kissed more ass than normal to get where he was. 31

A year after Kyle left the military, Central Atlantica’s government had combined the joint armed forces, and the CA’s Security Agency into one vast Central Access Agency, naming Bermen as the Directeur in charge. He answered to the country’s Premier, and would be the person in charge, until an emergency election, if anything happened to the Premier. 32

Kyle sat up in his chair at that stray thought, wanting to immediately dismiss it due to the unfathomable nature of the idea, but knew that it was something that should be followed up on. He looked at Celia. "I need you to check something for me." 33

"Name it." 34

"Who’s officially in charge if a ‘Diriger le Chef du gouvernement’ dies while in office?" he asked, using the full official title for the Premier. 35

Celia smiled slightly, reached into her pocket and pulled out a small computer card. "I thought about that earlier," she said in an innocent voice. 36

"You’re good," Kyle praised as he took the information card and inserted it into his portable computer. The information sprung into the air in front of them, and he overlapped certain files with those he had already selected earlier. 37

Reading through the files, Kyle felt his hunch dwindle down to nothing. There was no fact in the files that pointed to a conspiracy involving Directeur Bermen, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something. Bank accounts pointed at nothing, although those were easily manipulated, and his service record was less than stellar. There was an inconsistency in his records, although Kyle couldn’t access the corresponding records to compare. It was as though someone had removed them, or locked them in a level five security rating, a level that only the country Premier and Directeur would have. 38

"Maybe," Celia spoke, jolting him out of his speculation, "the assassination is scheduled for after the election." 39

Kyle ran his hands over his face, and blinked a few times as he tried to rest his weary eyes. "Maybe." He pushed his seat back and slowly stood. "I’m too tired to think." 40

"But…" 41

"If we’re too tired to think straight, then we’re going to screw up somewhere and that ain’t good." He grabbed his coat from the back of his chair and pulled it on. "Go home. That’s an order." 42

"Yes, Commander," Celia said, sketching him a brief salute. 43

Kyle leaned over and turned off all the information, making sure that he closed all access ports and set the tracer in case anyone tried to take a peek at the information they had been looking at. He paused as he remembered the possible level five rating that someone might have, and took a few minutes to make a copy of what they had been looking at, pocket it, then completely erased all the information. 44

~~~~~~~~~~Keren Pelgrew looked out of the cityscape, nodding as the lights twinkled on the streets below her. She could barely see the Promenade from where she stood, and took another look at the sketch of the set up for the Senator’s speech. 45

If the design was kept to, then she should be able to get a few clear shots at the Senator. If the podiums were moved any further than two feet in either direction, then Keren would have to scrub her idea and attempt another one. 46

There were a few other issues to take into consideration, such at the weather and wind speed. She didn’t worry about the security lines, since the building she was sitting on was a block outside of any lines that would have been set up. She had the newest in sniper weaponry, and could easily shoot from this distance. 47

She could have moved further back to another building, but this one suited her needs better than any other could. It had the best view and angle without placing her too close to the activities, and had a fire escape that lead to an alley that emptied out onto one of the busier streets, and would place her two blocks from the Ferry Terminal. 48

Not deserted, but not completely occupied, the building housed psychiatrist offices, dental practices, two coffee ships, and a card shop on the lowest floor. 49

It also had the wonderful distinction of hosting the office to one Dr. Jillian Johnston. 50

~~~~~~~~ 51

Instead of going home, Kyle found himself at a bar a few blocks from the military grounds. He sat at a table, nursing a local made beer while working thorough the day’s events. At times, he found that noise helped him think, but tonight it wasn’t working. He glanced up, spotted them coming in, and he wasn’t even surprised as the other three chairs at his table were pulled out and three people sat down. 52

Kyle took a drink from his now warm beer and grimaced. "Have a seat," he finally said. 53

"Thanks," Celia said as she motioned for a beer. The other two with her were as silent as they had been since they had joined the team. "I met these two as I got to my car, and thought you might like to hear what they found out." 54

"How’d you find me?" 55

"Wild guess," she replied. "Actually, you car’s parked in the lot outside." She slipped over a disk, and he put it in his personal computer, formatting the screen so it played flat in his hand. 56

He looked up at the other two and nodded. "Great work." He took the disk out, and passed it back. "Follow up on it tomorrow." He rubbed his eyes, and tried not to yawn. "Sorry," he said and reached for his cellphone as it vibrated in his inner pocket. He smiled as he read the small message that appeared, "Waiting for you, J", and put the phone back. Since she was going to be in the city for a week, Jillian had made is quite clear that she wanted to spend the nights in his bed. He had no problems with that, and had told her to message him when her meeting had finished. "I have someone to do, so…see you tomorrow," he said as he got up and walked out of the bar. 57

~~~~~~~~Kyle jerked awake, momentarily wondering where he was, until he realized he was in his own bed. Feeling slightly disoriented, but not knowing why, he rolled from his stomach over onto his back, checking the clock quickly as he did. He still had ten minutes before the alarm would sound, and as he continued his repositioning, he discovered why things felt different. 58

Jillian’s face was half hidden by her arm as she slept in the bed beside him, and he stared at her in ‘just awake’ confusion. She had shared his bed many times, but this was the first where she had actually remained the entire night, and been there when he woke. Usually, and due to flight schedules, she would have to leave around three in the morning, while he was still awake, or she would wake him just before leaving. 59

It felt strange to wake up beside someone, and part of him wasn’t sure if he was ready for something so seemingly natural as that. He hadn’t had a serious relationship sine he was married, preferring to maintain causal non-overnight partners so that he wouldn’t have to get too close to anyone again. The end result had hurt too much the last time, and he didn’t want to feel anything remotely similar to that pain again. It had taken a while to build enough walls, and to begin enjoying life again, that he found it hard to let anyone see his real self. 60

Although, Jillian Johnston came damn close. He loved being with her, loved talking to her, hearing her talk, laugh, or just doing nothing. She was terrific in the sack, but it went beyond that at times, when they seemed to hit a groove that seemed right. He loved everything about her, but he wasn’t sure if her loved her. 61

"Morning." 62

He blinked at the voice, unaware that she had woken and that he was staring blankly at her. He tried to smile a greeting, but could tell by the look on her face that he didn’t exactly succeed. 63

"Sorry," he whispered. "You caught me thinking." 64

"About?" 65

God, he thought as his eyes traveled from her hair mussed by sleep to her bare breasts peeking out over the top of the sheets. He shook his head and fell back on to the pillow. If you tell her, she’ll leave. He blinked in annoyance at that thought. One of the reasons they got along so well was that both were only in it for the casual companionship. Neither was looking for a permanent thing at the time. If he told her what he was thinking, she might get spooked, and he would never see her again. 66

"Are you all right?" she sounded concerned as she sat up and looked at him. From her viewpoint, he looked unusually confused. "Kyle?" 67

"I’m okay," he managed to whisper. "Just a residual feeling from a dream," he lied, then forced himself to sit up. "It’ll pass." 68

She smiled slightly. "Would this panic attack have anything to do with me being here?" 69

Fuck! He opened his mouth to refute her question, but could tell that she had read the answer in his eyes. Her face changed slightly, and he closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see the pain he caused. He felt the bed move and opened his eyes to see her starting to get up. 70

Stop her! "Jillian." Kyle waited until she faced him. "It’s not like that. Sit…and I’ll try to explain." He waited until she sat down, her arms crossed over her bare chest. He took a deep breath, suddenly feeling like a sixteen year old instead of thirty-eight. "I love you and if I tell you I’m afraid you’ll leave and never come back." 71

She stared at him, and he realized what he had said. 72

Fuckfuckfuckfuck. He closed his eyes tight and pushed his open palms against them. "That’s not what I was going to say." He took his hands away and quickly stood from the bed. "I’m sorry." 73

"Kyle." She held out her arms and took his hands in hers. "Stop being such an ass. You love me…okay. It’s okay. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you." 74

"No?" He sat back in the bed. "Why not?" 75

"What?" 76

He laughed slightly. "I don’t want a serious relationship. You know that. Now, suddenly, I tell you that I love you." His chest started to tighten again. "Fuck." 77

"Tell me something," she said, "do you love me, or love the idea of being with me?" 78

"I don’t know. Does it matter?" 79

"Are you afraid to be seriously hurt again, or are you afraid that admitting you’re in love would mean that you’ve moved on?" 80

"Don't fucking analyze," Kyle said, not knowing why he was suddenly angry. The one thing he didn’t like about Jillian was when she started treating him like one of her patients. She may have been an analytical psychologist, but he had made it very clear in the beginning that he didn’t like her treating him like a patient. 81

"Don’t swear at me, Kyle." 82

"I’m sorry," he said. "You’re right." He leaned in close so that their foreheads were touching. "I didn’t mean to admit what I said, and until I said it, I didn’t realize it. If it’s going to cause an issue between us, then I’d rather we forget that I said it." 83

She stared into his eyes, and saw the pain of his past overshadowing the hopes of his future. She knew that he would take a long time to get over what had happened, and wished he would hurry up with it. Although they were anything but exclusive, all it would take was a promise of monogamy from him, and she would base her practice out of Halifax, instead of travelling back and forth from the current one in Australia. 84

The alarm clock took that moment to sound, making them both jump. Kyle turned around to switch it off, then turned back to her. "I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to think about it." 85

"Ask." 86

"Stay here, with me, for the week that you’re in the country." He sat on the edge of the bed. 87

She stared at him for a long moment, enough to make him uncomfortable. "I’ll think about it." She smiled at him. "Are you sure?" 88

"No." He stood and smiled briefly. "But, if I’m going fucking crazy, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be with." 89

She made a face at him. "Go to work." 90

~~~~~~~~ 91

She watched him leave, and waited for the other person who belonged to the extra car. She hadn’t been able to see who it was when they both arrived the previous evening, but by the way the car remained all night, she could guess. 92

Keren Pelgrew didn’t really care who he had spending the night with him. To her, Dr. Jillian Johnston was just another pawn to use in the game of keeping Commander Suene to preoccupied to find her.