2013년 11월 28일 목요일

About 'small nose rings'|.... So people need to just back off, let this happen." She had a ring in her nose, like a bull. The ring was a pale piece of bone. "Revolution is from the...







About 'small nose rings'|.... So people need to just back off, let this happen." She had a ring in her nose, like a bull. The ring was a pale piece of bone. "Revolution is from the...








               .....A               figure,               dressed               in               camouflage,               watches               through               binoculars               from               the               nearby               woods               as               the               policeman               comes               from               behind               the               beach               house,               climbs               into               his               car               and               drives               up               Compass               Drive.

The               observer               waits               patiently               until               the               silence               returns,               then               stealthily               moves               toward               the               cliff               edge.

It               had               been               a               close               call,               the               man               who               descended               to               the               beach,               may               have               spotted               her               as               she               peered               over               the               ledge.

Her               mind               is               alert               to               the               dangers,               but               she               must               reenter               the               crime               scene               to               search               for               what               her               informant               told               her               was               there.

She               was               defying               her               protocols               and               experience;               she               should               not               be               here               so               soon               after               killing               the               young               man,               a               macho               college               student               following               his               male               instincts.

But               the               rush               of               the               drug,               the               sexual               stimulation               had               overwhelmed               her.
               Shaking               away               the               thought,               Cassiopeia               knew               she               had               fooled               herself               into               thinking               that               he               could               be               a               key               role               in               the               plan.

Instinctively,               she               knew               his               type               and               true               to               form,               he               had               tried               to               exert               his               will               over               her.

She               had               stepped               too               close               to               the               flame.

Sighing,               "No               more               mistakes."               Once               again               she               bypasses               the               alarm               system               and,               seconds               later,               stands               in               the               cool               room               near               the               bar.
Methodically,               she               taps               the               wood               panels,               front               and               back               looking               for               a               secret               compartment.

Minutes               pass;               her               internal               alarm               about               the               possibility               of               discovery               gets               louder.

Her               watch               beeps               once;               her               allotted               is               up,               time               to               fly.

Moving               to               the               rear               door,               she               waits               for               several               interminable               seconds               and               just               listens.

When               she               is               sure               that               there               is               no               one               on               the               other               side,               she               opens               the               door               slips               out,               rearms               the               alarm               and               moves               off               to               the               south               along               the               cliff               into               the               fading               daylight.

Chapter               2
               Break               Through
               Friday
               The               next               morning,               I               delivered               the               dagger               to               Dr.

Pace.

He               was               cautiously               optimistic               that               it               was               the               murder               weapon.

As               I               watched,               he               tweezed               small               fragments               of               metal               from               the               blade               near               the               hilt,               careful               not               to               mar               the               potential               value               of               an               artifact.

Pace               had               sent               the               other               metal               and               hair               samples               to               the               university               lab               for               metallurgical               analysis               to               determine               the               metal               make               up               and               approximate               age               of               the               dagger.

He               would               test               these               samples               personally               to               establish               a               possible               match.
               The               cell               phone               McCoy               found               turned               out               to               be               Cy               Leyton's               The               battery               was               dead               and               all               the               calls               were               over               two               years               old.

I               asked               the               Deputy               to               chase               down               the               phone               numbers               anyway.

McCoy               didn't               seem               to               mind;               he               seemed               happy               to               help               out.



               Pace               promised               to               tell               no               one               but               Sheriff               Thomson               about               the               knife               and               I               brought               it               home               for               safe               keeping.

If               this               were               the               murder               weapon,               I               didn't               want               anyone               else,               especially               the               murderer,               to               know               I'd               recovered               it.

In               my               experience,               back               in               Jefferson               City,               facts               of               evidence               as               well               as               the               evidence,               itself,               had               a               tendency               to               leak               to               the               wrong               people.

I               expected               Sheriff               Thomson               to               question               my               motives,               but               he               didn't.
               Thankfully,               the               murderer               had               decided               that               the               value               of               the               dagger               was               worth               less               than               his               freedom.

He               tried               to               destroy               the               evidence               by               throwing               it               in               the               ocean.

The               hair               strands               may               or               may               not               be               connected               to               the               murder.

I               had               more               questions               for               Franklin               Leyton               and               called               the               residence               to               see               if               he               was               at               home.

Calloway               assured               me               that               Colonel               Leyton               would               be               available               and               I               headed               back               to               the               Leyton               Estate.

I               wanted               to               know               who               was               responsible               for               cleaning               and               maintaining               the               beach               house.
               The               butler               again               led               me               into               the               library               where               I               found               the               Colonel,               dressed               in               a               paint               stained               artist's               smock               and               facing               a               canvas               mounted               on               an               easel               near               the               library's               glass               wall.

As               I               watched               him,               Franklin               held               his               painter's               palette               and               leaned               away               from               his               work.

He               hadn't               noticed               my               entrance               and               concentrated               on               his               painting               as               he               moved               forward               to               make               a               short               brush               stroke               on               the               portrait               of               a               young               woman.

I               recognized               the               eyes               and               the               curly               hair               immediately.

Caroline's               beautiful               face               smiled               beautifully               out               into               the               room.
               Leyton               turned               as               if               sensing               my               presence.

"Ah,               Detective               Farro,               still               investigating,               I               see."               Calloway               stood               just               inside               the               library               door.

It               was               then               I               noticed               Caroline               Leyton               sitting               as               Franklin's               model               on               a               chair               near               the               French               Doors.

"Ah,               this               is               my               niece,               Caroline."               Franklin               casually               nodded               in               her               direction.

"She's               my               late               brother,               Cyrus'               daughter."               

               Caroline               got               up,               crossed               the               room               and               acted               as               though               she               were               meeting               me               for               the               first               time               and               I               played               along.

She               smiled               and               shook               my               hand.

"Detective               Farro,               pleased               to               meet               you."
"Delighted,               Miss               Leyton."               I               smiled               back.

Caroline's               smile               weakened               "Detective,               my               uncle               says               you're               investigating               what               happened               at               our               beach               house.

I               can't               believe               anyone               died               there.

Things               like               that               just               don't               happen               in               Lord's               Beach."               She               seemed               relatively               calm               compared               to               our               last               meeting.

"Oh,               I               am               sorry,               can               we               offer               you               a               drink?"
               "Club               soda               with               a               twist."
               Caroline               smiled               at               Calloway.

"Lemonade               for               me,               please.

Uncle,               do               you               want               a               drink?"               

               Without               looking               at               us,               Franklin               waved               his               paint               brush               dismissively.
               "Very               good,               Miss."               The               butler               left.
               Caroline               returned               to               sit               in               the               chair               near               the               door.

But,               now               she               seemed               distracted               and               turned               to               look               at               the               Ocean.

The               Colonel               continued.

"My               niece               is               very               photogenic               and               I               wanted               to               capture               her               in               the               mid-morning               sunlight.

She               looks               very               much               like               her               mother,               you               know."               Leyton               laid               down               the               palette               and               paint               brush               and               turned               to               face               me.
               "Colonel,               do               you               keep               any               valuables               at               the               beach               house?"
               "Valuables?

Do               you               suspect               robbery?"
               "Maybe,               I'm               trying               to               determine               why               the               victim               might               have               been               there,               since               the               house               was               supposed               to               empty.

He               could               have               been               a               burglar."
               "You               know,               all               of               this               is               so               strange.

I               don't               understand               it               either."               The               Colonel               shook               his               head.

"The               house               is               usually               kept               closed               up.

Oh,               and               yes,               we               keep               some               minor               art               works               there.

Maybe               Mr.

Tyson               did               break               in               on               the               chance               that               there               was               something               of               value               to               steal."
               Out               if               the               corner               of               my               eye,               I               saw               Caroline               stir               as               the               Colonel               mentioned               Tyson.

"Closed               up,               as               in,               secured?"
               "Only               my               brother               used               the               house.

"               The               Colonel               looked               over               to               Caroline.

"It               was               his               private               retreat               and               Cy               only               allowed               the               house               staff               to               come               in               once               a               week               to               straighten               up.

When               he               died,               we               closed               up               the               house               and               set               the               alarm.

No               one               was               supposed               to               be               there."               

               A               maid               came               into               the               library               with               a               tray               with               our               drinks               and               left               quickly;               Calloway               returned               only               seconds               later.

He               hovered               at               the               open               door.

Leyton               sensed               the               butler's               presence.

"Yes?

What               is               it               Calloway?"
               "Sir,               Spence               is               leaving               to               pick               up               groceries               and               supplies.

Will               you               require               anything?"
               Before               the               Colonel               could               answer,               Caroline               suddenly               interrupted.

"Yes,               I               want               to               go               along."
               The               Colonel's               icy               stare               shouted               volumes               as               she               glided               past               the               butler               and               into               the               hallway.

I               noted               that               she               didn't               look               at               me               or               her               uncle,               The               butler               stood               awaiting               Leyton's               reply.
               "That               will               be               all."               Leyton               commanded.

"Detective,               I               must               apologize               for               my               niece.

She               has               been               very               moody               of               late."
               I               nodded               as               Calloway               closed               the               door               behind               him               and               I               continued               my               questions.

"And,               you               don't               know               of               anything               else               at               the               beach               house               which               may               invite               a               break-in?"
               "As               I               said,               there               are               several               paintings,               but               none               worth               more               than               a               few               thousand               dollars.

Hardly               worth               killing               for."
               I               looked               up               at               the               library's               balcony.

"Are               the               paintings               at               the               beach               house               like               those               up               there?"
               Leyton               looked               severely               wounded.

"Those               paintings               are               by               Hoogerheyden,               Buttersworth               and               Eugene               Boudin.

They're               priceless."               He               was               momentarily               indignant;               then               became               calmer.

"My               brother               donated               most               of               the               family's               valuable               pieces               to               the               museum.

It               was               fortunate               that               I               arrived               when               I               did               or               those,"               He               motioned               with               one               hand               toward               the               balcony.

"Would               have               gone               also."
               The               hint               of               distress               in               Franklin's               answer               was               telling.

I               decided               to               pursue               it.

"You               didn't               approve               of               the               donations?"
               Franklin               picked               up               the               brush               again               and               gently               dabbed               at               his               palette,               then               turned               to               me.

"My               brother               was               a               generous               man.

Many               of               the               artworks               he               bought               were               from               furthest               reaches               of               the               globe               and               he               just               gave               them               away."               Franklin               frowned               shaking               his               head.
               I               got               back               to               the               subject.

"I               have               to               determine               why               the               victim               was               there."
"I               haven't               even               seen               the               house               for               more               than               two               years."               Franklin               lowered               his               chin               and               seemed               to               ponder               to               himself.

"That               was               after               my               brother               was               lost               at               sea."               Franklin               seemed               genuinely               touched               by               his               brother's               passing.

"If               you               don't               mind,               I'd               like               to               interview               your               house               staff.

Who               had               access?"
               "You               suspect               a               member               of               my               staff?"               The               Colonel               seemed               incredulous.
               I               shrugged.

"I               don't               know.

However,               they               may               have               noticed               things               out               of               place,               maybe               unusual               activity               at               the               house."
               Leyton               reached               over               and               pushed               a               button               mounted               on               the               leg               of               a               nearby               table.

Seconds               later,               Calloway               appeared               at               the               doorway               again.
               "And,               Colonel,               Joseph               Tyson               worked               at               the               museum               on               campus.

I'll               need               your               influence               to               look               around.

I'll               keep               my               investigation               as               discreet               as               possible."
               Leyton               nodded.

"Set               it               all               up               with               Calloway."               He               said               as               though               the               butler               were               not               standing               there.

He               was               playing               the               role               of               rich,               arrogant               ass               to               the               hilt.

The               Colonel               stared               into               space               before               answering.

"I               want               to               cooperate               as               much               as               possible."               Leyton               mused               out               loud.

His               eyes               narrowed.

"You               will               stick               with               Dean               Winslow's               accidental               death               story."
               "That's               right.

We               don't               want               the               Press               involved               until               we               have               more               of               the               facts."
               "You               can               expect               the               Dean's               complete               cooperation."               Franklin               looked               at               his               watch.

"Detective               Farro,               I               am               sorry;               I               just               remembered               that               Senator               Stanton               called               this               morning               and               I               must               speak               to               him."               Franklin               said               anxiously.

"Callaway               will               see               you               out."
               "Thanks               again               for               your               time."               I               waited               for               his               reply               but               the               Colonel               walked               quickly               out               of               the               room;               the               odor               of               the               oil               paint               on               his               smock               wafted               across               the               room               as               he               left               me               with               Calloway.

So               far,               I               had               a               victim,               the               suspected               murder               weapon               and               two               strands               of               dark               hair.

The               motive               still               eluded               me,               but               it               was               time               to               visit               the               only               place               in               common               with               all               the               major               players,               besides               the               beach               house,               Ocean               Bluff               College.
               On               the               way               to               the               campus,               I               stopped               to               give               Sheriff               Thomson               a               progress               report.

He               seemed               pleased               to               see               me.

An               hour               later               I               drove               through               the               main               gate               in               the               high               stone               wall               which               surrounded               the               college.

Ocean               Bluff               College               was               aptly               named,               since               it               sat               on               a               high               cliff               overlooking               Deep               Bottom               Inlet,               a               natural               deep               water               bay               only               a               half               mile               wide               but               very               deep,               more               than               sixty               fathoms.

This               inlet,               shaped               like               a               long               narrow               finger,               extended               inland               from               the               Atlantic               for               more               than               a               mile               

               The               college               sat               on               the               northern               shore               of               this               bay               and               like               the               rest               of               the               coast               in               this               area,               the               water's               edge,               hundreds               of               feet               below               the               college,               was               mostly               rocky               with               small               beaches               of               finely               ground               bits               of               rocks               and               shells.

The               fast               tidal               currents               in               the               bay               prevented               any               lighter               weight               material               from               remaining               in               place               for               long.



               Before               going               to               the               Dean's               Office,               I               meandered               along               Lover's               Leap               Drive,               a               narrow               winding               lane               which               ran               along               the               seaward               end               of               the               campus.

There               was               a               spectacular               view               from               the               two               hundred               foot               bluff               looking               out               at               the               blue               Atlantic               Ocean.

And,               like               many               college               campuses,               whose               legends               included               haunted               bell               towers               or               ghost-ridden               dormitories,               Ocean               Bluff's               claim               to               fame               was               a               mysterious               Lover's               Leap.
               Apparently,               Ocean               Bluff's               first               graduating               class               lost               two               students               whose               families               forbade               them               from               associating               with               one               other.

Arthur               Parker               was               the               son               of               an               aristocratic               family               which               had               arranged               a               marriage               for               him.

Cynthia               Marron,               the               daughter               of               a               farmer,               was               the               first               scholarship               student               at               Ocean               Bluff               College.

Leyton               Shipping               granted               tuition               payments               to               any               student               who               showed               academic               promise,               regardless               of               background.
               However,               Arthur               unsuccessfully               pleaded               with               his               parents               to               accept               Cynthia               as               his               true               love.

And,               Cynthia's               father,               although               he               recognized               his               daughter's               dilemma,               decided               she               should               marry               inside               her               own               community.

However,               the               young               couple               could               not               live               without               each               other               and               solved               both               their               needs               by               leaping               together               into               the               cold               dark               waters               of               Deep               Bottom               Inlet.

Their               bodies               were               never               recovered               but,               apparently,               Arthur               and               Cynthia               were               together               in               eternity.

The               plaque               mounted               on               a               stone               pillar,               erected               near               the               site,               marked               the               exact               spot               of               the               double               suicide.
As               I               drove               toward               the               administration               building,               I               couldn't               help               but               wonder               how               two               vibrant               youngsters               couldn't               find               another               way               to               be               together.

After               locating               Dean               Winslow's               Office,               I               entered               the               reception               area               and               his               secretary,               Mrs.

Fine,               an               attractive               middle               aged               woman               looked               up.

She               was               appropriately               dressed               in               a               dark               green               knee-length               skirt               and               a               white               blouse               decorated,               at               the               collar,               by               an               ivory               cameo.

Mrs.

Fine               exemplified               a               time               when               I               had               attended               college               in               my               younger               days.

It               was               a               pleasant               change               from               tattoos               and               nose               rings.

Her               shoulder               length               auburn               hair               was               neatly               coiffed,               not               a               hair               out               of               place.

She               greeted               me               cordially."May               I               help               you?"
               "Hello,               I'm               Dan               Farro.

I'm               here               to               see               Dean               Winslow."
               Mrs.

Fine               smiled               again.

The               Sheriff               and               Jackson               Calloway               called               and               said               you               would               be               coming               this               afternoon.

"Please,               wait               here."Mrs.

Fine               moved               to               the               door               of               the               Dean's               office               and               stuck               her               head               inside,               then               turned               back               to               me,               "Mr.

Farro,               you               can               go               right               in."
               Dean               Chester               Winslow               met               me               halfway               to               his               desk               and               shook               my               hand               warmly.

Winslow               was               tall,               over               six               foot               five,               athletic               looking               with               the               silver               grey               hair               that               many               corporation               presidents               and               government               diplomats               seemed               to               have.

He               wore               a               light               blue               shirt               with               a               dark               red               tie               decorated               with               light               blue               diagonal               stripes.

"Pleased               to               meet               you,               Detective               Farro."               Sheriff               Thomson               tells               me               you're               handling               the               Tyson               investigation,               what               a               shame.

He               was               so               young."               Winslow               became               very               somber.
               I               nodded.

"The               death               of               a               young               person               is               always               sad               when               there               seems               to               be               no               reason               for               it.

Just               for               background,               Dean               Winslow.

What               is               the               student               population               of               Ocean               Bluff?

And,               what               do               you               teach               here?"
               "There               are               about               five               hundred               students,               more               than               half               are               female.

The               curricula               includes               the               study               of               the               oceans               and               the               impact               of               large               bodies               of               water,               on               the               planet               as               well               as               the               archeological               history               of               peoples               who               live               near               those               oceans."
               "The               campus               seems               deserted.

I               realize               that               most               businesses               slow               down               at               the               end               of               the               week,               but               I               didn't               know               the               T-G-I-F               syndrome               applied               to               college               campuses,               too."
               Dr.

Winslow               smiled.

"Yes,               we               really               taper               off               on               Fridays               and               our               staff               leaves               early               for               the               weekend,               too."
               Thomson               had               told               me               that               Dean               Winslow               was               a               college               chum               of               the               late               Cyrus               Leyton               and               had               also               accompanied               him               on               several               Asian               expeditions.

His               office               was               neatly               furnished               and               his               desk               top               was               completely               empty               except               for               his               nameplate               with               a               pen               holder,               a               call               director               and               a               desk               blotter.

As               a               detective               I               was               taught               to               be               observant.

A               person's               personality               and               character               are               usually               reflected               by               his               surroundings               according               to               Detective               Frank               Randall,               my               Mentor.
               As               a               Detective,               when               I               had               first               heard               about               Cy               Leyton's               disappearance,               I               was               curious               about               what               happened.

"I               understand               that               you               and               Cyrus               Leyton               were               good               friends.

How               long               have               you               known               him?"
               "Actually,               Cyrus               and               I               met               as               Freshmen               in               college               and               we               got               to               know               each               other               very               well.

We               were               inseparable               and               took               several               classes               together.

I               loved               archeology               and               Cy               did,               also.

Boy,               I               could               tell               you               a               few               interesting               college               coed               stories               about               Cy               Leyton."               Winslow               laughed.

"But               I               promised               I'd               never               tell."
               I               laughed.

"I'm               sure               they               would               be               interesting               stories               but               tell               me               more               about               the               man,               Cy               Leyton."               I               was               trying               to               get               a               feel               for               Winslow               before               I               asked               about               Tyson.
               "You               know,               Cy               always               had               to               be               first               at               everything.

He               was               a               tremendous               competitor,               but               I               would               have               followed               him               anywhere."               Winslow's               eyes               glistened               with               tears               as               he               reflected               on               his               missing               and               presumed               dead,               friend.

"Whew."               Winslow               took               out               his               handkerchief               and               dabbed               at               his               eyes.

"               You'd               think               that               two               years               would               ease               my               grief."               Winslow               sighed               as               he               pointed               to               the               pictures               on               his               credenza.

One               was               a               duplicate               of               the               picture               that               I               had               seen               at               the               beach               house.

I               walked               over               for               a               closer               look.
               Winslow               followed.

"Cy               is               the               one               in               the               middle."
               It               was               easy               to               pick               out               Cyrus               Leyton.

His               large               framed               body,               short               cropped               whitish               hair               and               broad               smile               dominated               the               picture.

In               one               of               the               other               photos,               Leyton               was               holding               a               magnum               cigar               in               one               hand               with               a               bottle               of               beer               in               the               other               and               smiling               like               the               cat               that               swallowed               a               canary.

In               this               picture,               the               camera               had               picked               up               a               wisp               of               cigar               smoke               as               it               curled               around               his               head               just               as               the               picture               was               taken.

It               made               him               look               sinister.

The               date               on               the               picture               was               three               years               ago.
               "Did               they               ever               find               Leyton's               boat?"
               "The               stern               section               of               the               Dulcinea               drifted               southwest               toward               Jane's               Island.

They               found               it               washed               up               on               a               sand               bar.

How               it               got               that               far               south               without               be               spotted               is               anybody's               guess.
               "That               far               south?

How               far               is               that?
               "I               only               know               what               everyone               else               knows.

He               wasn't               supposed               to               be               on               Grief               Bay               that               night."
               Grief               Bay?

How               appropriate.

"And               the               stern               section?"
               "Sunk!

The               sight               of               the               shattered               boat               so               upset               Caroline               that               Franklin               had               the               hulk               towed               out               to               deep               water               and               sunk               after               the               Coast               Guard               Inquiry."               Winslow               sat               down               on               the               window               seat               and               stared               out               into               space.
               I               almost               hated               to               break               his               reverie.

"Did               you               know               that               Joe               Tyson               worked               here               at               the               college               museum               part               time?"               Tyson               was               a               computer               tech               who               worked               on               the               security               system.

But,               Winslow               didn't               seem               to               hear               me.

"Dean               Winslow,               may               I               have               a               look               at               the               museum?"               My               question               awakened               Winslow               from               his               daydream.
               "Oh!

Of               course,               but               why               the               museum?"
               "The               deputies               searched               Tyson's               dorm               room               and               found               a               pay               stub               from               the               college.

He               had               a               part               time               job               at               the               museum,               right?

It's               as               good               a               place               as               any               to               start               as               any."
               "That's               right,               this               morning               Mrs.

Fine               informed               me               that               we               employed               Mr.

Tyson.

Certainly,               I'll               take               you               there,               myself."               Winslow               moved               to               his               desk               and               reached               for               the               intercom.

"Mrs.

Fine,               please               get               me               the               security               key               for               the               museum."               He               grabbed               his               suit               jacket               and               walked               out               to               the               outer               office               and               taking               the               electronic               key               from               Mrs.

Fine,               he               led               me               outside               along               the               tree               lined               walkway               from               the               administration               building               toward               the               North               side               of               the               campus.
               As               we               neared               the               building,               I               noted               that               the               design               of               the               museum               building               stood               out               from               the               traditional               ivy               covered               brick               structures.

Constructed               of               cast               concrete,               glass               and               steel,               the               museum               sat               on               a               knoll               overlooking               an               oval               shaped               pond               which               extended               east               toward               the               edge               of               the               cliff.

The               building               reminded               me               of               the               Air               and               Space               museum               in               D.C.

The               other               Ocean               Bluff               buildings               matched               the               Smithsonian               Institute.

I               was               curious               about               this               structure's               departure               from               the               classic               Ivy               League               look.
               As               we               climbed               the               stone               steps               to               the               massive               oak               front               doors,               I               noticed               a               bronze               plaque               engraved               in               understated               small               block               letters.

"IN               MEMORY               OF               "KATHERINE".

There               was               no               last               name,               just               "KATHERINE".
               "This               building               is               not               like               the               others.

I               mean,               the               design               and               architecture               are               quite               different?"
               Winslow               sighed.

"Yes,               it               is               quite               different.

Like               Katherine."
               "Who               was               she?

I               thought               Cyrus               Leyton's               wife's               name               was               Abigail?"
               "Yes,               Cyrus               married               Abigail               Fitch               over               twenty               five,               no               twenty               six               years               ago.

They               were               divorced               right               after               this               building               was               built."               

               Without               another               word,               Winslow               climbed               quickly               up               the               remaining               steps               faster               than               I               expected               a               man               of               his               years               could.

He               inserted               the               electronic               key               into               one               of               the               door               jambs               and               moved               to               an               alarm               panel               to               his               right.

Shading               the               buttons               from               my               sight,               Winslow               punched               in               a               sequence               of               numbers               and               the               red               light               on               the               panel               switched               to               green.



               He               removed               the               key               and               I               heard               several               audible               clunking               noises               as               dead               bolts               slid               back               into               their               cradles               at               the               top               and               bottom               of               each               door.

Winslow               walked               up               to               the               doors               and               gently               pushed               the               right               door               inward.

The               cantilevered               unit               swung               open               as               easily;               as               though               it               didn't               weigh               in               excess               of               five               hundred               pounds,               which               it               did.
               Pushing               open               the               other               door               just               as               easily,               Winslow               entered               the               museum               and               stopped               just               inside               and               looked               up               at               the               dome               of               steel               spines               and               glass               which               formed               the               ceiling               of               this               round               and               vaulted               vestibule.

He               spread               his               arms               wide,               theatrically.

"Mr.

Farro,               behold               the               Leyton               legacy."
               Beyond               the               massive               doors,               lay               a               large               circular               vestibule               over               one               hundred               feet               in               diameter.

I               looked               at               the               white               marble               of               the               floor.

"This               marble               looks               like               the               Supreme               Court               Steps."               I               quipped.
               "Just               so.

"Cyrus,               Senior               knew               the               designer               of               the               Supreme               Court               Building               very               well."               Winslow               responded.

"In               fact               this               marble               was               imported               from               the               same               quarry               as               those               Supreme               Court               steps.

Cy               found               a               company               warehouse               full               of               this               stone               after               his               father               died."
               I               looked               around               at               the               sun               lit               floor               and               although               there               were               dark               grey               and               black               veins               appearing               deep               in               the               stone,               the               overwhelming               color               was               a               brilliant               white.

The               Dean               of               Ocean               Bluff               College               seemed               invigorated               just               by               being               in               the               museum               entry               hall               as               he               turned               to               close               the               doors.

Winslow               walked               slowly               toward               the               the               centerpiece               of               the               foyer.
               There,               captured               in               bronze               for               all               eternity,               was               a               twelve               foot               statue               of               Jack               Leyton,               sire               of               the               Leyton               Dynasty,               dressed               in               a               ship               master's               uniform,               grasping               a               ship's               wooden               steering               wheel               in               one               hand               and.

a               sextant               in               the               other.

With               his               long               bronze               hair,               forever               swept               back               by               a               strong               sea               breeze,               the               founder               of               Leyton               Shipping               stood               atop               a               flattened               map               of               the               world               mounted               on               a               circular               platform               of               light               grey               granite.
               Winslow               was               gazing               in               awe               at               the               statue;               I               had               to               get               him               back               to               the               present.

"Where               did               Tyson               work?"
               "Oh,               yes,               Mr.

Tyson               worked               on               the               security               computers.

He               did               the               technical               work."
               "Can               you               show               me               your               security               center?"
               "Yes,               I               took               the               liberty               of               taking               the               keys               to               that               area,               too.

Fred               Bernard               is               our               Chief               of               Security,               but               he               needed               personal               time               off.

Besides,               the               museum               is               closed               for               renovation               and               with               the               tour               is               being               packed               for               transport.

We               reasoned               that,               with               the               automated               electronic               security               system,               there               is               no               need               to               have               anyone               on               duty               today.

On               Monday,               however,               the               building               will               be               crawling               with               workmen               and               we've               hired               several               extra               security               officers               to               monitor               the               activity."
               "How               big               is               this               building?"
               "The               grounds               cover               two               acres               not               including               the               pond.

The               museum               itself               is               thirty               thousand               square               feet               and               is               constructed               like               the               spokes               of               a               Chinese               fan               with               this               main               entry               foyer               as               the               hub.

Museum               exhibits               occupy               the               five               spokes               and               there               are               park               areas               and               shady               paths               outside               between               the               spokes."               He               pointed               to               the               guide               near               the               statue.

It               reminded               me               of               the               those               in               large               shopping               malls,               'You               are               here'.

The               various               spokes               represented               different               areas               of               the               world.
               "I               heard               you               went               with               Cy               on               some               of               his               discovery               trips."
               "Just               two,               actually.

One               to               Southeast               Asia               and               another               to               South               America.

As               I               said,               I               am               very               interested               in               Archeology."
               I               shrugged.

"I               never               could               get               interested               in               the               history               or               the               people.

They               live               there               and               we               live               here               and..."               I               shrugged
               Winslow               winced               visibly.

"That's               a               pity.

The               history               of               other               peoples               can               be               very               fascinating.

Would               you               like               a               little               tour,               first?"
               "Why               not?

My               girlfriend               will               ask               me               what               I               saw."
               "Well,               then               it               won't               matter               where               we               start."               Winslow               smirked.
               He               chose               one               of               the               five               corridors               which               led               away               from               Leyton's               statue.

As               Winslow               walked               slowly               along               he               pointed               out               various               exhibits               of               primitive               tribes               and               offered               his               commentary.

He               did               make               it               sound               interesting.

"These               exhibits               contain               the               indigenous               people               of               the               Amazon               Region               in               South               America.

These               manakins               have               been               placed               in               poses               which               simulate               tracking               animals               for               food               in               the               Central               and               South               American               jungles."               Winslow               stopped               and               pointed               to               the               exhibits.

"Those               are               examples               of               obscure               tribes               of               the               upper               Amazon.

Those               tribes               have               survived               for               thousands               of               years               without               any               interference               from               our               modern               world.

I               believe               there               are               more               tribes               that               we               will               never               find."
               "This               isn't               much               different               from               those               in               the               Jefferson               City               Museum               of               Natural               History."               I               offered.
               Winslow               stopped               in               his               tracks.

"I               thought               you               didn't               like               museums               or               history."
               I               shrugged,               raising               my               hands               in               surrender.

"My               girlfriend               is               one               of               you."
               Winslow               smiled               a               knowing               smile.

"Women               do               control               our               wants               and               desires."
               I               nodded.

"She               and               I               visited               the               museum               in               Johnson               City               two               years               ago.

Trish               loved               it;               all               I               saw               was               a               bunch               of               stuffed               dummies               and               animals               propped               up               in               the               curator's               rendition               of               how               the               natives               lived               in               the               jungle.

I               prefer               more               modern               history               and               folklore,               But,               Trish               could               spend               days               roaming               through               museums               and               art               galleries."
               Winslow               frowned               again               but               continued,               undaunted               by               my               apparent               lack               of               respect.

"In               fact,               most               museum               exhibits               are               very               similar               to               one               another.

We               frequently               ship               these               to               the               other               museums."
               I               was               looking               for               the               exhibits               with               metal               weapons,               hoping               to               find               a               weapon               similar               to               my               dagger.

"These               exhibits,               for               the               most               part,               show               stone               knives               and               axes.

Where               are               the               ones               with               metal               weapons?"
               Winslow               stopped.

"Oh,               those               displays               are               in               another               section.

Follow               me               this               way."               Winslow               walked               toward               a               nearby               doorway               which               turned               out               to               be               shortcut               to               an               adjacent               spoke               of               the               museum.

As               we               walked,               Winslow               continued               his               tour               description.

"The               far               east               cultures               used               more               metal               for               their               implements.

Those               are               in               this               wing,               but...."
               "But?"
               "But,               we're               in               the               process               of               packing               these               exhibits               for               an               interstate               tour."
               "Can               we               look               anyway?"               Maybe               one               would               be               similar               to               the               one               I               found.
"Of               course,               but               the               exhibits               will               be               quite               bare               of               displays."               I               shrugged               and               Winslow               led               me               through               the               connecting               tunnel               to               the               Asian               exhibits.

But               when               we               got               there,               the               place               was               quite               dirty               and               tossed               about.

Apparently,               workers               had               been               busily               breaking               down               the               exhibits               and               constructing               new               walls.

Construction               dust               and               debris               were               everywhere.

Winslow               seemed               disturbed               by               the               clutter.
               "Ordinarily,               we're               not               quite               so               messy.

But,               we               decided               to               use               the               opportunity               to               remodel               this               area               while               the               exhibits               were               on               tour."
               I               pointed               to               one               of               the               remaining               exhibits.

"That               looks               like               India."
               "Very               close.

Actually,               these               displays               are               from               another               country               in               Southeast               Asia.

That               one               mirrored               India               and               China.

Today,               we               know               it               today               as               Cambodia."
               Of               course,               I               had               heard               of               Cambodia.

"That's               near               Vietnam,               right?"               I               thought               aloud               "Some               of               my               old               police               buddies               died               there."               Randall               had               many               stories               about               his               tours               in               Southeast               Asia.
               Dr.

Winslow               frowned.

"There               are               no               politics               here,               Detective               Farro,               I               can               assure               you.

We're               interested               only               in               the               impact               of               culture,               religion               and               weather               on               the               civilizations."
               I               interrupted               him.

"How               far               back               in               history               are               we               looking               here?"
               "The               twelfth               century.

Detective,               have               you               ever               heard               of               Angkor               Wat?"
               "Sounds               familiar,               but               like               I               said,               I               never               was               into               foreign               history."
               "I               understand,               but               the               short               story               is               that,               in               Angkor               Wat,               the               early               Cambodians               were               very               religious               people               who               built               large               temples               and               cities.

These               pieces               right               here,"               He               motioned               to               a               group               of               pictures               in               one               of               the               few               display               cases               left               in               the               room,               "are               from               Oc               Eo               one               of               their               oldest               human               settlements               near               the               South               China               Sea."
               My               puzzled               look               made               the               Dean               continue.

"The               early               Cambodians               built               a               system               of               canals               for               streets               and               actually               traded               with               China,               India               and,               even               with               ancient               Rome."
               "Rome,               Italy?"               I               said               suddenly               recognizing               another               country               I               knew.
               "Rome,               Italy;               that's               right.

Maybe               with               Julius               Caesar               himself."               Winslow               smiled.
               "What               kind               of               weapons               did               the               Cambodians               use?"
               "Bronze               and               tin               swords               and               knives               mostly.

But               they               are               not               here."
               I               was               confused.

"They're               all               gone?"
               "No,               most               of               the               items               are               downstairs               being               packed."               

               "Could               we               take               a               look               at               the               ones               being               packed?"
Winslow               paused               for               a               second,               but               shook               his               head.

"Certainly.

Follow               me."               He               unlocked               a               nearby               door               which               had               a               sign               which               read               'Employees               Only'               and               led               me               down               a               flight               of               steps               to               the               museum's               lower               level.

On               the               stairway,               he               paused               and               turned               back               to               me.

"Our               insurance               company               insists               that               this               area               be               secured               at               all               times               and               our               security               systems               have               been               malfunctioning.

That's               another               reason               why               the               museum               is               closed               today."               Winslow               unlocked               the               door               at               the               bottom               of               the               staircase               with               a               regular               metal               key               and               walked               through               without               touching               the               keypad.

"As               you               can               see,               the               building               security               system               isn't               working               down               here?"               He               whispered.

"But,               all               the               external               entrances               are               secured               and               hooked               into               a               central               monitoring               company.

The               police,               er,               the               Sheriff's               deputies,"               Winslow               snickered.

"Can               be               here               in               less               than               three               minutes."
               I               must               have               missed               the               humor               in               what               he               said.

"What's               so               funny?"
               "I               just               realized               the               police               are               already               here,               aren't               you,               the               Police?"               Winslow               chuckled,               again.
               I               shook               my               head               and               frowned.

But,               my               cop's               curiosity               started               pinging               when               Winslow               said               that               the               security               system               was               not               functioning.

And,               Tyson               was               working               on               the               security               computers.
               The               Dean               continued.

"There               have               been               intermittent               computer               programming               glitches;               they               started               several               weeks               ago."
               "That's               a               long               time               for               a               security               system               to               be               malfunctioning."               I               thought               out               loud
               "It's               not               totally               down.

But               we               are               having               a               variety               of               smaller               system               breakdowns.

Last               Tuesday,               for               instance,               the               packing               room               alarms               would               not               engage               until               we               rebooted               the               system.

But,               you               are               right.

It               is               a               long               time               and               we               have               a               software               team               from               the               manufacturer               coming               on               Monday,               also.

The               only               thing               that               works               properly               is               the               fire               alarm.

They               said               there's               an               issue               in               the               program's               deep               logic,               whatever               that               is.

But,               as               I               said,               all               external               doors               and               security               fields               are               still               working."               Winslow               sounded               defensive.



               We               walked               further               down               the               corridor               where               there               were               three               more               doors               one               to               the               left               and               two               to               the               right.

"Where               do               you               usually               station               your               security               officers?"
               "When               the               museum               is               open,               only               authorized               personnel               are               allowed               down               here               and               usually               we               keep               one               officer               upstairs               and               another               down               here               when               the               packers               are               working               in               this               room."               Winslow               opened               the               door               on               our               left               with               a               security               card;               reached               and               switched               on               the               lights.
               We               entered               a               large               room;               there               were               dozens               of               stacked               wooden               crates               which,               I               assumed,               contained               art               treasures.

On               a               work               bench               directly               across               from               the               door,               I               noticed               several               wooden               statues               and               two               light               green               fat               men,               each               about               a               foot               tall.



               Winslow               noticed               my               reaction.

"Buddha               representations."               Winslow               offered.

"Twelfth               century               under               Jayavarman               VII.

Jayavarman               was               the               last               great               king               of               the               Angkor.

He               built               the               new               capital               of               Angkor               Thom,               north               of               Angkor               Wat."
               I               shrugged.

"If               you               say               so."
               Winslow               smiled.

"Ah,               the               arrogance               of               the               present.

Detective,               to               ignore               the               fact               that               a               human               being               crafted               those               statues               without               machines               or               computers,               is               showing               our               arrogance."               Winslow               shook               his               head.

"I               am               afraid               our               younger               generation               has               little               desire               to               learn               about               how               we               got               here,               our               civilizations,               I               mean."
               Hoping               to               change               the               subject,               I               didn't               respond               but               walked               past               the               workbench               with               the               statues.

There               were               two               small               boxes               protruding               from               beneath               the               bench.

I               gingerly               stepped               around               them,               but               Winslow               apparently               didn't               see               them               and               stumbled,               falling               forward.

His               shoulder               struck               the               edge               of               the               table               and               he               landed               hard               on               his               knees               on               the               concrete               floor.
               "Dean               Winslow!"               I               grabbed               his               arm               and               helped               him               up.

"Are               you               alright?"
               Winslow               shook               his               head.

"Quite!"               He               seemed               a               little               embarrassed.

"How               clumsy               of               me.

I               should               have...."               As               he               was               dusting               off               his               slacks,               his               eyes               narrowed               as               he               looked               down               at               the               floor.
"What's               the               matter,               Sir?"               "Look               at               that!"               Winslow               pointed               at               one               of               the               wooden               boxes               which               he               had               tripped               over.

It               had               sprung               open;               he               reached               down               to               pick               up               the               piece               of               smooth               river               stone               which               had               been               inside.

"What's               this?"               He               picked               up               the               top               of               the               box               and               looked               at               the               label.

"This               should               contain               a               Khmer               Jade               Elephant,               a               priceless               statue!"
               I               pried               opened               the               other               box.

It               had               two               steel               rods,               mounted               in               Styrofoam               packing               material.

We               continued               opening               the               remainder               of               the               boxes               on               the               bench.

In               a               short               time               we               completed               our               inventory               of               the               packing               list.

Everything               was               there               except               for               the               missing               elephant               and               a               brace               of               royal               daggers.

Winslow's               description               of               the               missing               knives               matched               the               one               I'd               found               in               the               surf.

The               knife               came               from               the               museum.

And,               now               I               knew               there               was               another               one               out               there.

That               could               be               another               lead               to               finding               the               killer.
               Suddenly,               I               remembered               my               new               technology,               my               cell               phone.

As               much               as               I               hated               these               gizmos,               I               realized               that               I               had               a               crime               scene               and               I               needed               pictures.

I               opened               it               like               I               knew               what               I               was               doing               and               tried               to               remember               Trish's               instructions.

After               a               couple               of               attempts,               I               aimed               the               phone               camera               lens               at               the               boxes               and               other               items               and               took               several               pictures.

Now,               all               I               had               to               do               was               get               them               off               the               phone.

Trish               would               be               here               tonight.

I'd               ask               the               Sheriff               to               send               a               fingerprint               guy,               but               I               wasn't               hopeful               to               find               useable               prints               with               all               the               dirt               down               here.



               "Have               security               look               through               the               rest               of               the               exhibits,               just               in               case."               I               suggested.

"I'll               inform               Sheriff               Thomson."               I               had               one               of               a               pair               of               royal               daggers,               but               Winslow               didn't               have               to               know               that.

There               was               a               thief               who               worked               on               the               campus               and               the               thief               could               be               a               murderer.

Everyone               was               a               suspect.

Did               the               murderer               still               have               my               knife's               mate?

Did               he               know               what               he               had?
               At               about               6               o'clock,               I               got               back               home.

It               would               be               dark               in               an               hour               and               I               wanted               to               get               cleaned               up               because               Trish               was               on               her               way.

For               a               second               time               that               day,               the               hot               shower               felt               great               on               my               face               and               chest.

I               recalled               the               cold               surf               yesterday               and               shuddered               at               the               thought               of               being               swept               away               by               the               backwash.

I               shook               away               the               thoughts               as               I               toweled               dry               and               wiped               the               steam               off               the               mirror.

A               fresh               shave               would               go               a               long               way;               Trish               preferred               the               smooth               as               a               baby's               butt               feel.
               At               7               o'clock,               I               was               sitting               on               my               rear               deck;               it               was               just               getting               dark               as               a               cool               ocean               breeze               stirred               the               tall               pines               which               separated               my               cottage               from               Farragut               Lane.

The               ocean               below               was               calm               as               a               lake.

Suddenly,               I               heard               a               distant               sound               carried               on               the               light               breeze               through               the               trees.

I               recognized               it,               the               distant               whine               of               a               motorcycle               engine               winding               up               then               the               drone               of               decelerating               as               the               rider               shifted               through               the               gears               and               making               hard               turns.



               The               echoes               sounded               like               the               bike               was               traveling               along               Cliff               Road               and               moving               fast.

I               walked               through               the               house               onto               the               front               porch.

About               a               mile               away,               I               caught               a               glimpse               of               a               single               headlight               as               it               slashed               along               the               roadside               trees               through               the               gathering               darkness.

I               knew               there               was               a               sharp               curve               ahead               of               the               speeding               bike               where               the               road               sweeps               out               toward               the               cliff's               edge               as               it               rounds               a               long               bend.

"If               that               jerk               isn't               careful,"               I               thought               aloud,               "He'll               drive               right               off               the               curve               and               won't               feel               a               thing               until               the               Atlantic               Ocean               slaps               him               in               the               face."
               But,               he               made               it               around               that               turn               and               the               engine               screamed               louder               as               the               biker               downshifted               again               and               the               light               shifted               as               the               rider               leaned               over               to               round               the               final               curve               before               Farragut.

I               could               see               the               bright               headlight               dip               back               toward               me               as               the               biker               left               the               bike               in               the               lower               gear               coming               off               Cliff               Road.

"That               idiot               probably               has               a               death               wish.

If               he               were               my               kid,               I'd               kick               his               ass."               But,               this               was               none               of               my               business.
               The               droning               engine               grew               louder               as               the               biker               downshifting               again,               decelerating               onto               Farragut,               instead               of               heading               away               along               Cliff               Road.

The               noise               became               a               low               growl.

The               rider               revved               the               engine               twice,               leaned               hard               left               and               cruised               slowly               into               my               driveway.

Covered               in               black               leather               from               helmet               to               toes,               the               intruder               slid               the               bike               to               a               stop               on               the               loose               driveway               gravel               and               kicked               down               the               stand               right               in               front               of               me.

With               hesitating               he               leaned               the               bike               over               and               killed               the               throbbing               engine.



               And,               I               was               ready.

This               creep               was               going               to               get               a               piece               of               my               mind.

The               cop               in               me               wanted               to               stuff               him               up               his               exhaust               pipe               and               that               stunt               driving               deserved               another               blast.

I               walked               halfway               across               the               porch               and               stopped               short               as               my               uninvited               visitor               swung               one               leg               off               the               machine               and               looked               right               at               me               through               his               dark               visor.

Reaching               up               with               gloved               hands,               he               grabbed               both               sides               of               his               black               helmet               and               lifted               it               straight               up.

Trish's               long               dark               auburn               tresses               fell               down               over               her               shoulders               as               she               shook               her               head.
               Her               smile               was               lost               on               my               blank               stare.

"Hey               Dan!

Great               day               for               a               bike               ride,               isn't               it?"               Trish               bubbled.
               For               a               second               or               two,               I               was               stunned.

"Ride?"               My               temper               took               over.

"Who               the               hell               taught               you               to               ride               like               that?

Do               you               realize               how               dangerous               a               motorcycle               is?

Do               you               know               there's               a               hundred               foot               cliff               out               there               and               …."               I               was               livid.
But,               my               tirade               seemed               to               have               little               effect.

She               set               her               helmet               on               the               handlebars               and               walked               right               up               to               me,               put               her               arms               around               my               neck               and               planted               her               beautiful               lips               on               mine.

At               that               instant,               I               forgot               why               I               was               angry               and               several               dazzled               seconds               later,               I               had               to               push               her               away.

"Well,               aren't               you               glad               to               see               me,               Dan               Farro?"               Trish               pouted,               curling               her               lower               lip.
               "Ah               yeah,               it's               just               that..."               I               stumbled.

"You               look               terrific."               I               hesitated;               I               was               smitten               again.

How               could               I               stay               mad               at               this               beautiful               brunette               with               that               pouting               look               and               the               tight               fitting               leather               pants               and               her               bright               hazel               eyes?



               Trish               unzipped               her               leather               jacket               and               moved               closer.

She               pressed               herself               up               against               me.

"I               missed               you!"               She               purred.
               I               pushed               her               away               again.

"How               long               have               you               had               that?"               I               frowned,               nodding               toward               the               bike.
               She               pulled               back               and               sighed.

Her               eyes               went               wide.

"You               don't               approve?"               She               put               her               hands               on               her               hips.

"You               don't               like               women               bikers,               huh?

Oink.

Oink."               Trish               mocked               coquettishly."               You've               become               a               sexist?"
               I               frowned               again.

"You               know               me               better               than               that."
               "Oh,               you're               just               jealous               that               I               can               ride               and               you               can't"               She               teased.
               I               scowled.

"I               rode               a               motorcycle               before               you               learned               how               to               say               the               word."
               "That's               only               because               you're               an               old               man."               She               laughed               and               continued               her               teasing.

But,               before               I               could               respond,               Trish's               eyes               went               soft               and               she               moved               even               closer.

"My               old               man."               She               sighed               and               kissed               me               again,               hard.

The               porch               light               showed               the               auburn               highlights               in               Trish's               long               brown               hair               which               smelled               clean               and               fresh               and....

her               leather               pants               fit               her               well,               too.
               "I'm               starved."               Trish               said               as               she               pushed               me               away.

"What               are               you               making               for               dinner?"
               I               was               still               half               dazed               again.

"Reservations."               I               whispered.
               Trish               laughed.

"We're               going               out?

Great!

Where?"
               "Down               to               the               wharf....

The               Lobster               Pot."
               "I'll               grab               a               quick               shower               and               change,               okay?"               Trish               went               back               to               the               bike,               opened               a               saddle               bag               and               took               out               a               small               duffel               bag               and               her               helmet               and               went               inside.

I               walked               the               bike               over               toward               the               garage.
               ***********
               It               was               about               eight               when               we               got               to               the               restaurant               overlooking               the               Lord's               Marina.

The               waitress               had               just               served               our               drinks.

"Our               gallery's               been               busy."               Trish               began.

"Last               month,               we               located               several               Asian               artifacts               and               the               buyers               have               been               all               over               us.

What               have               you               been               doing               with               all               your               spare               time,               Dan?"
               I               wasn't               sure               I               should               tell               her               about               the               Tyson               case.

But               she               had               helped               me               on               several               cases               back               in               Jefferson               City               before               I               retired.

Unlike               my               ex-wife,               Trish               took               interest               in               my               job.

I               liked               that               and               decided               to               tell               her               about               the               murder.

I               thought               she'd               be               surprised               that               I'd               agreed               to               help               the               Sheriff.

But               she               wasn't.
               Trish               seemed               delighted               that               I               was               involved               in               the               investigation.

"I               suppose               even               sleepy               Lord's               Beach               has               to               have               a               little               excitement"               she               laughed.

"You               aren't               in               any               danger,               are               you?"               She               added               as               an               afterthought.
               I               smirked.

"Danger?

No,               I               don't               think               so,               not               in               sleepy               Lord's               Beach,               right?"
               She               rolled               her               eyes               in               response.

As               with               my               previous               cases,               she               listened               intently               to               my               findings.

"Are               you               the               lead               detective?"
               "No               way!

I'm               just               gathering               clues."               At               least,               I               thought               that's               what               I               was               doing.

I               knew,               in               my               heart,               I               was               hooked.

I               told               Trish               the               general               facts               of               the               case.

And,               since               we               were               in               a               restaurant,               I               didn't               tell               her               the               whole               story               about               the               Leyton's.

After               dinner               I               suggested               we               get               back               to               the               cottage.



               When               we               got               there,               I               stoked               the               ashes               and               threw               a               few               of               hunks               of               oak               on               the               fire.

The               fire               crackled               and               the               scent               of               burning               wood               and               warmth               filled               the               living               room               as               we               sat               in               the               glow               of               the               flames.

We               talked               for               a               while               about               the               Leyton               Mansion               and,               in               passing,               I               mentioned               Cy               Leyton's               disappearance               two               years               previously.
               Then,               I               selected               a               CD               from               my               collection.

The               classic               love               songs               played               in               the               background               as               Trish               leaning               her               back               against               my               chest               sipping               wine               and               watching               the               jumping               flames.

The               music               brought               back               memories               of               my               younger               days.

Trish               never               complained               about               my               choice               of               music.

In               fact,               she               seemed               to               like               it               as               much               as               I               did.



               She               settled               back               and               snuggled               even               closer               and               I               gently               kissed               her               on               the               top               of               her               head.

Her               hair               smelled               like               flowers               as               she               moved               away               from               me               and               took               my               wine               glass.

Placing               it               next               to               hers               on               the               table,               she               turned               back               and               crawled               up               onto               me,               nuzzling               her               head               under               my               chin.

Her               warm               body               melted               against               mine               and               I               held               her               a               little               tighter.



               Trish               looked               looked               up               into               my               eyes               and               I               knew               she               wanted               me               to               kiss               her.

The               crackling               fire               and               the               warmth               of               her               body               were               too               much               to               resist.

I               leaned               forward               and               gently               kissed               her               on               her               lips               and               she               responded               by               pulling               herself               on               top               of               me,               kissing               my               neck               and               pressing               her               body               harder               against               me.

Her               kisses               moved               across               my               cheek,               then               her               parted               lips               gently               but               passionately               touched               mine.

I               felt               the               tip               of               her               tongue               probing               at               my               bottom               lip               and               then,               my               top               lip               communicating               her               needs.

She               was               answering               my               unasked               question.
               ***********
               Meanwhile,               ten               miles               to               the               west,               Cassiopeia               sat               in               her               darkened               car               and               pushed               the               answer               button               on               her               phone.

She               knew               she               needed               to               visit               the               house               one               more               time.

Pressure               was               mounting               as               she               spoke               to               her               handler.

"You               must               find               another               way."               The               female               voice               said.

"You               are               risking               the               entire               mission.

Do               you               understand?"               The               gravely               voice               hissed               through               her               cell               phone               speaker.Cassy               dared               not               respond               and               quickly               touched               the               off               button.



               She               had               less               than               two               weeks               to               obtain               the               material               and               forward               the               information               to               the               dead               drop.

Her               employers               were               getting               more               impatient               by               the               hour               and               had               threatened               more               than               once               to               close               down               the               operation.

But,               she               knew               the               consequences               of               failure               as               much               as               the               need               to               preserve               her               solid               cover.
               Two               years               ago               the               op               had               failed               because               her               team               ignored               her               instructions               and               went               all               'terrorist'               against               the               target.

They               were               supposed               to               board               the               sailboat,               retrieve               the               device               and               any               computer               paraphernalia               and               then               sink               the               boat.

She               had               been               specific               about               Leyton.

They               were               to               subdue               him,               administer               the               sedative               and               meet               a               second               team               at               a               rendezvous               south               of               Castle               Point               Light,               where               they               would               turn               over               their               prisoner               and               the               equipment               and               get               paid.
               Compartmentalizing               was               the               goal.

There               were               three               teams               involved               and               each               one               only               knew               its               own               tasks.

The               final               team               was               comprised               of               two               pilots               who               would               fly               the               goods               out               of               the               country.

Once               in               international               airspace,               they               would               learn               their               destination.
               Of               course,               the               first               leg               of               the               mission               went               wrong               and               the               rest               of               the               plan               continued               down               the               tube.

If               only               she               were               allowed               to               lead               the               mission.

But,               that               was               irrelevant               now.

Apparently,               Leyton               had               installed               a               fail               safe               device               aboard               his               sloop               and               he               blew               himself               up               with               his               invention.
               Cassy               recalled               the               searing               pain               that               shot               through               her               eye               as               the               bomb               detonated               and               the               fireball,               magnified               by               the               night               scope,               flashed               across               the               five               miles               of               open               water               and               into               the               telescope.

And,               it               had               taken               a               year               and               a               half               to               set               up               her               present               cover               and               her               employers               were               adamant.

Her               current               undercover               position               was               inviolable.

Even               speaking               on               phone               ten               miles               away               from               the               beach               house               was               risky,               let               alone               her               recent               trips               to               the               property               to               search.

If               they               knew,               they               would               scrub               the               operation               and               recall               her               immediately.

But,               the               mission               had               become               personal.
               Cassiopeia,               her               name               sake,               was               a               mythical               arrogant               woman               who               didn't               get               on               too               well               with               Poseidon.

The               Greek               god               of               the               sea.

She               was               sure               that               the               American               Analyst,               who               established               her               code               name,               must               have               thought               that               she,               too,               was               arrogant               and               vain               because               of               her               bold               and               successful               missions               against               the               Agency,               not               to               mention               the               little               clues               she               left               behind               to               twist               their               tails.
               With               the               loss               of               the               Leyton               prototype               at               sea,               the               only               solution               was               to               find               any               plans               and               documentation               to               help               recreate               it.

They               had               hacked               into               Leyton's               company               computers               and               found               little,               and               she               knew               that               Leyton               didn't               like               digital               records.

Her               sources               discovered               that               Cy               Leyton               preferred               carrying               only               encrypted               flash               drives               and               paper               drawings.

He               left               no               data               on               his               personal               computers               and               laptops,               either.

Leyton               feared               industrial               espionage,               not               her               kind.
               To               wit,               Cassy               surmised               that               Leyton               had               hidden               a               duplicate               device               or               drawings               or               another               flash               drive.

They               weren't               at               his               corporate               offices.

And,               her               search               of               the               museum               had               also               been               fruitless.

Every               time               she               stepped               out               of               her               cover               identity,               she               risked               disaster.

Her               handler               had               to               know               that               she               was               violating               protocol,               but               so               far,               the               female               voice               on               the               other               end               of               the               phone               didn't               hint               that               he               or               she               knew.
               But,               now,               she               had               made               the               mistake               of               killing               the               student.

He               had               given               her               access               to               the               museum               on               the               lie               that               she               was               an               art               thief               and               that               she               had               clients               waiting               for               Asian               artifacts.

He               was               infatuated               with               her               persona               and               acted               like               a               puppy               dog               of               sorts,               that               is,               until               the               puppy               grew               sexual               fangs.



               She               must               have               been               too               stressed               or               drugged;               her               instinct               was               to               protect               herself               and               the               young               man               died.
               ******






Image of small nose rings






small nose rings
small nose rings


small nose rings Image 1


small nose rings
small nose rings


small nose rings Image 2


small nose rings
small nose rings


small nose rings Image 3


small nose rings
small nose rings


small nose rings Image 4


small nose rings
small nose rings


small nose rings Image 5


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    small nose rings