Intersection (42 page)

“Agent Toles?”

“Yes, detective?”

“I’ll run everything I can…If the spooks show, we’ll know. I think you can rest a little easier though, really.”

“How long to process the scene? I’m over an hour and a half away.”

“Nothing you can do here, Agent. Come down and check out the scene tomorrow. M.E. is already removing the body.”

“Ferro?”

“Yeah?

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Agent. Take care of the lady,” he said affectionately. “She’s a keeper.”

Alex smiled. She still had her reservations about the detective’s news. But, even if Fisher hadn’t killed himself it was possible that he had become a greater liability to someone else. At least that is what the agent hoped. It was in her nature to cross every possible ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’, but she also felt a slight sense of relief. And, she was flattered by the detective’s words.
Cassidy melted a lot of hearts and if anyone could understand why, it was the agent. “She is,” Alex acknowledged. “No worries, Detective, though I think she might be the caretaker,” the agent admitted soliciting a chuckle on the other end of the phone.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Agent.”

“That you will. Good night, Detective.”

Alex seemed just a bit lighter as she said her goodbyes to her family. Cassidy was curious if that was the result of the visit with Nick and Barb, having gotten a weight off of her after telling Dylan about the separation, or if it might have something to do with the phone call. As Alex moved to hug her nephew, Nick pulled the school teacher aside. “Listen, Cassidy,” he paused as he led her slowly toward the car. “I want you to know that you and Dylan, you are always welcome here, anytime.”

“That’s very sweet, Nick.”

“No…Look, I know Alex is worried about something. She’s tight lipped about work. Actually she’s tight lipped about a lot,” he mused. “But not about you. She’s just….Can I be blunt?” Cassidy nodded. “I’ve never seen my sister…well, she really loves you, Cassidy.”

Cassidy looked at the man that had spent much of the evening playing the role of class clown. She was certain she could see just the hint of an affectionate tear in his eye. Barb had told her at one point during an episode of play that he and Alex called the Duel of Champions Billiard Bonanza; for the boys’ sake of course; that Nick had always worshipped his sister. Alex had never shared much about her parents and Barb filled in some of the reasons for Cassidy why that might be. She said that while Alex’s parents were always kind to her; they were always hard on their children. Alex got the worst of it and Nick had called her his protector when they were small. Now,
the teacher could see the great love the man had for his sister. Gently, she grasped Nick’s arm, “I love her too, Nick.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “Just please promise me, if you need anything, you or Dylan…I am a phone call or a car ride away. Barb too.” He took the teacher into a bear hug. “Thank you,” he said.

“Thank me?” Cassidy was perplexed.

“Yeah.” He confirmed the sentiment.

Cassidy patted his arm. “Thank you, Nick,” she smiled as Alex came to the door and opened it for her.

“Hey! Teach him how to do that, will ya’?” Barb mocked as she led her son back toward the house.

“What?” Nick feigned his innocence.

“Yeah, yeah,” she called to him. “Tell him Alex… chivalry is NOT dead.”

Alex laughed and playfully slapped her brother on the back. “Still learnin’ huh?”

“Yeah, you talk to me in 13 years… see if you’re still holding the door,” he quipped.

Alex glanced in the window to see Cassidy trying to gently calm Dylan’s over excitement. “Umm, you don’t want to make that wager, bro.”

Nick shook his head as he walked with his sister toward the back of the car. “You got it BAD,” he teased.

Alex just shrugged as she opened her car door. “Nick?”

“Yeah,” he turned back to his sister.

“If I need a place…”

“Anytime,” he smiled with understanding, receiving her nod of appreciation.

It wasn’t very long before both Dylan and his mother were sound asleep in the car, Cassidy’s hand resting on the agent’s thigh. Alex was running possible scenarios through her mind
about Carl Fisher. Suicide didn’t make sense, but she had to confess the idea that someone wanted him out of the picture seemed a viable possibility. The agent could tell Ferro had seen similar things in the past and he seemed fairly certain that Fisher was dead. That was the ultimate relief for the agent. If that was true, then she could start working on the congressman’s accident and his relationship to Krause. After everything that had happened, Alex Toles had no intention of walking away from her investigation into the congressman and his dealings. She could have let go the entire fact that he reported her relationship with Cassidy, but she could not let go the reality that his actions in so many instances hurt the woman she loved and Dylan; not to mention put them in harm’s way. “Selfish,” she whispered as she made the turn into the driveway. “Hey,” she gently took the hand from her thigh and kissed it. “Cass, we’re home.”

“Hmmmm?” The teacher mumbled. “Sorry…”

“Come on,” Alex coaxed. “I’ll get the champ back there,” she smiled.

Dylan stretched and grabbed onto Alex’s neck. The agent carried him to his room and laid him down on his bed while his mother retrieved his pajamas. “Why don’t you go and relax. I’ll get him set,” Cassidy smiled.

“Feel like a glass of wine?” Alex asked.

“Love one,” the teacher answered.

“Okay…I’ll meet you downstairs in ten.” Alex made her way down the stairs and poured two glasses of white wine before taking a seat on the large couch and stretching her legs out onto the coffee table. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Two small but strong hands began to tenderly massage her shoulders and she sighed, “Mmm.”

“You sore?” Cassidy whispered. She had noticed that Alex was walking a little slower than normal as she left Dylan’s room.

“A little,” the agent sighed, feeling the tender touch of her lover as it relieved the last remaining bits of tension from her drive.

“Your back?”

“Mmm…”

“You should have let me drive,” Cassidy said with some concern.

Alex chuckled. “Come here.”

Cassidy slowly made her way around the couch and Alex pulled the woman onto her lap. Tenderly the agent tucked the woman’s long blonde hair behind her ears. “Do you know,” Alex stopped and kissed the woman’s nose, “how happy you make me?”

“Ummm? Tell me.”

Alex smiled and looked into Cassidy’s eyes deeply. “I never felt like this, Cass. Not with anyone.”

“Really?” Cassidy said a bit playfully.

“Really.”

“What’s gotten into you, Agent?” Cassidy kissed her lover’s forehead.

“You.”

“No, no, Alex Toles…It’s something else, though I appreciate the compliment.”

Alex considered the woman’s assessment. “All right, I don’t know for sure yet but I think we may not have to worry about Carl Fisher anymore.”

Cassidy’s body jerked almost in disbelief. “Why?”

“Well, looks like maybe someone took care of that problem for us. I’ll know more tomorrow, but for tonight I am going with the belief that there is one less worry,” she placed a soft kiss on Cassidy’s lips and felt the smaller woman’s body relax dramatically. Cassidy repositioned herself and laid back placing her head on the agent’s lap and looking up at her. “Don’t you want your wine?” The agent asked.

“Not right now. I just want to be here.” Alex gently stroked her lover’s hair with one hand and sat her glass down on the table beside her. “Alex?”

“Hum?”

“When you said that we …. That we’re your family,” Cassidy faltered.

“Yeah….”

“Well, I want you to know that I feel the same way about you.”

“I know that,” Alex answered.

“I don’t want you to go,” Cassidy confessed taking hold of the hand that was slightly entwined in her hair.

“I don’t want to go, either, Cass…but it won’t be for long.”

“Yeah, but Alex… That’s where your life is.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Alex…I…”

“No, Cass… That’s where my life was.”

“What are you saying?” Cassidy asked searching the eyes above her.

Alex sighed. “Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m betting a suspension…and I’ve been thinking….I talked to Taylor…”

“Alex….” Cassidy was worried about the agent’s intentions and did not want to completely uproot Alex’s life.

“Listen, Taylor’s wanted me back at the NSA since before I left. Maybe it’s the right time…there’s a great office here…”

Cassidy sat up and came eye to eye with the agent. “Alex. Look, I want to be with you. I know that, but wouldn’t it make more sense…I mean with Chris in D.C. so much…if Dylan and I were to…”

The agent smiled and caressed her lover’s cheek. “No.”

“You didn’t even hear what I…”

“Mhmm… I know what you were thinking and the answer is no. Cass, your mom is here… Christ, my family is here… No….I’m coming back. I’ll find someplace that’s…”

Cassidy put her finger on Alex’s lips. “If you are coming back, then it will be here…until we find someplace else.” Alex shook her head trying to suppress her chuckle. “What’s so funny?” Cassidy asked almost offended.

“No…no. It’s a joke….about lesbians….you know, and U-Hauls.” Cassidy shook her head not understanding. Alex laughed. “Look it up,” the agent smiled.

“I guess I’m pretty clueless,” Cassidy said.

“No, you are refreshing….and you are beautiful,” Alex kissed her lover.

“Are you sure about this? I mean, Alex…”

Alex kissed the woman again and felt the breath leave her body. She pulled back slowly and looked in Cassidy’s eyes. “Cass… I have never been more certain about anything in my life.” Alex sighed and closed her eyes as Cassidy laid back down in her lap.

“Alex….What is it?” Cassidy asked softly noting the tear that had escaped Alex’s eye and was rolling down her cheek. She lifted her hand and brushed it away.

“When Dylan ran into the room tonight,” Alex struggled to continue.

“Yeah?”

“I just wanted to call and quit…. Seeing him that upset…I just…”

Cassidy closed her eyes. “I love you so much, Alex.”

“Where did that come from?” The agent asked.

“I don’t think you could know, what it means to me…Seeing you with Dylan, how much he loves you. Just…I can’t explain it to you. I wish I could…How that makes me feel….like I have a family; like HE has a family.”

“I think I understand, Cass…Seeing you with him, every time I do….I fall in love with you all over.”

“Alex?’

“Yeah?”

“Can we just stay like this….for a while? I don’t want to lose this moment.”

The agent took her lover’s hand and inhaled deeply. Tenderly her fingers caressed the smaller hand and she smiled in contentment. “I think that sounds perfect,” she answered.

Cassidy nestled her head against the agent’s stomach, placing a gentle kiss there. “
Merci de m’aimer
, (Thank you for loving me).”

“
Vous êtes mon monde. Merci d’avoir été ma famille
. (You are my world). Thank you for being my family),” The agent replied softly.

“Always, my love,” Cassidy sighed. “Always.”