| “Mind and Heart; Body and Soul” by Kazroo Part 8 "Letters and Numbers"
"You need to relax," John intoned. "Easier said than done. I'm worried about what your uncle is up to. Knowing his tactics, someone will get hurt." "That's for tomorrow. We're safe here, now. We can sleep, safe." Jane just couldn't turn off the thoughts that Richard Clayton was scheming at right that very moment, giving him a head start. And what was he planning? Jane hadn't allowed herself to wind down. She was still wearing her jeans and shirt from yesterday. John made the most he could with the few areas of Jane's body he was able to touch directly - a neck nuzzle, a hand stroking down Jane's arm, and a playful rubbing of his bare feet over hers. The latter actually growing a smile on her lips. Jane turned to face John. She stroked his face, and pulled his hair back. John returned the favor, prompting a broad smile, and light laugh from Jane. She melted into his arms, placing her head so she could listen to John's heart. Richard was sitting at his desk. The lights were low and obscuring. There was a solid knock on the door. "Come," Richard bellowed. An undistinguishable figure entered the office and walked toward Richard. "Take a seat." Richard's guest sat, and threw back his long wild hair, revealing his face to Richard. He studied the face and mannerisms of the mysterious figure, then cracked an evil smile on those pencil thin lips. "Very good. It certainly looks like my efforts, and yours, of course, have been well worth it. I trust you have been properly briefed, and I know you've been quite well compensated - don't try to speak. The doctors tell me you still need time to heal. Have Julien escort you back to your room." Richard and the figure both stood. "We'll be in communication," Richard cryptically offered along with his hand to shake. With the first light, a restless, and still sleepless, Jane was up. She had managed to relax a bit in John's arms, but sound sleep never did find her. Wide-eyed and wired, she paced the kitchen. John was perched on the counter, watching behavior from Jane he had never seen, and didn't understand. "Jane." "Yes, John," she answered, still about to climb the walls waiting for Sam's call. John jumped off the counter, and followed Jane across the room. She rapidly turned, and stopped just short of plowing John over. Jane took in a startled inhale, and a slightly calmer exhale made the return trip. John clamped a hand on each of Jane's shoulders, and dropped his head down and toward Jane's face, locking eyes with hers. He said nothing, just stared. "I know. You're right. This is ridiculous. I don't wait well when lives could be at stake - and really not well if those lives are mine and yours. I'm afraid." "Of what?" "Your Uncle Richard is very powerful. That means he can get people to do things for him. He's willing to go to great lengths to be in control. I'm afraid he might…I'm afraid he might try so hard to control you, that he will hurt you, and I will lose you." With each word, Jane became increasingly emotional, and tears were sitting in the corners of her eyes. John understood the pain he was seeing in Jane's eyes. He gently touched the tears from Jane's eyes, collecting them on a fingertip. Jane snuffed, and swallowed to clear her throat. "I'm here, for always," John said as he wrapped his arms around Jane. She closed her eyes and just let herself be enveloped by the warmth and security John always brought to her. "I love you, John," She warmly whispered. He smiled. He may not have fully understood the words, but he clearly understood the feeling. They lingered there, as a single entity, until the phone rang. It startled Jane, and John jumped as a result of Jane's surprise. "It's OK - phone…hello?…hey Sam, what'd you find?" Jane picked up a small pad of paper and a short nubby pencil and made notations - several pages worth. "That's odd Sam - you sure about that one?" "Positive - and I doubt it was a philanthropic donation." "Yeah, thanks Sam. Keep digging. This doesn't add up yet. Talk to you later." Jane hung up the phone, headed to her computer, and turned it on. "What did Sam say?" John asked as he walked up behind Jane. "Your Uncle Richard has been spending money on some unusual things." "What things?" "That's what I'm about to get a better look at. Sam emailed me copies of his recent receipts…Sam was right. There's a bill payment here sent to one of the most expensive plastic surgeons in the country." "What does that mean?" John asked. "I'm not sure…oh wait, are you asking what a plastic surgeon is?" John bobbed his head in agreement. "A plastic surgeon changes the way someone looks on the outside. A lot of times they work on faces." "Why do people want to change their face?" "Well, some want to look younger, some want to look different. Some do it so they can hide. I don't know what your uncle is up to yet, but I doubt it's good." John came closer and watched Jane typing at the keyboard. "Those aren't in order," John stated. "What do you mean John?" "The letters - that's not the order they go in." Jane was momentarily confused. "Oh, you mean on the keys. You're right, John. The letters on a keyboard don't follow the alphabet." "Why?" "You know, I'm sure I knew once, but I can't remember. You learn to get used to it, eventually." Jane printed out hard copies of Richard's receipts, and shut down her computer. "OK, I have to shower before work," Jane said as she rose from her desk and headed toward the bathroom. Jane then made an abrupt turn into her bedroom first, and John followed. As Jane opened drawers, and pulled out her clothes for the day, John sprawled upon the bed and watched her move about. He lay on his back, and looked at Jane upside down as his head dangled over the side of the bed. Jane spotted John's cute, playful display, and smiled at him. As Jane left for her shower, John continued exploring upside down. When he heard the water turn on, he righted himself, and crept to the bathroom door. As he peeked around the corner, he spied Jane surrounded by steam, and he watched her bathe. He came further into the room, drawn nearer by Jane's ivory limbs. John's desire for Jane was a permanent state of being. As Jane stepped out of the shower, she was holding a towel in front of her the long way, and it obscured her vision. She wiped off her face, and began to lower the towel, drying as she went. Suddenly, she caught sight of John watching her, and inhaled. "John, have you been watching me the whole time?" He nodded, and approached Jane, pushing up against her, and kissed her passionately. Jane melted back against the wall, and nearly lost her towel. "Ohh…John…if I didn't have to work…You make leaving very difficult." She cupped his face and stroked his cheek, then gently pushed him back. Jane turned the towel from the long way to the wide way, and wrapped it shut around her. John read Jane's body language and stepped back, following her back into the bedroom. He watched Jane as she got dressed, relishing the sight of each body part, as they were covered one by one. John had again sprawled across the bed. When Jane looked at him there, with the sweet, innocent visage, it was all she could do not to join him. She felt the passion as intensely as John, but right now, she had to control the wild impulses she has had since they day they met. John brought out a side of Jane she had been unaware of until their pairing. Jane closed her eyes for a moment, and bit her bottom lip. A deep breath in; a deep breath out. Reopening her eyes, she headed out to leave the apartment, John galloping behind her. She turned to say goodbye, and John was right there, inches away. "Will you be OK here alone?" John nodded emphatically. "OK. I have to go to work, but I will try to stop back at lunchtime. Nicky might be home a little before me - if she doesn't go off with her friends, so don't count on her showing. I know you'd rather be out there, roaming the city, but please, keep yourself safe. Until we know what Richard has planned, it's just too dangerous." She dared a quick kiss, and was out the door. John pressed his ear to the door, and listened as Jane left. He then looked around, hunting, assuring himself he was alone. John approached Jane's computer, and tapped at the keys. He looked at the screen, but it was dark, and nothing changed as he continued to hit keys. John cocked his head with a lack of understanding. He pinched his fingers around one of the keys, and pulled up this time. It came off, and John held an A in his hand. He smiled, and located the B, then the C, and pulled them off as well… As Jane was entering the precinct house, Sam's hand took her by the arm, and turned her around. "Before you hit the desk, I think I may have found that link you were looking for," As they walked down the street, Sam explained. "I ran with that plastic surgeon's bill. I think I found who got the new face." "Who?" "He's recently paroled - major anger management probs. His name is James Ripton. He's got a background in martial arts and gymnastics-" "And now he has a new face, courtesy of Richard Clayton - why?" "I thought we'd ask him; I got his address." "Sam, you have the touch today." Sam and Jane arrived at the building, and Sam pushed the buzzer. "Whadya want?" came from the speaker. "NYPD - we need to see one of your tenants - James Ripton." There was no answer. Sam and Jane looked to each other. Sam was about to lay on the buzzer when the door opened. A small, balding man chomping on a cigar stood there. "So you comin' in or not?" Sam and Jane turned sideways to slip past him. "His apartment's on the 3rd floor - and his rent is overdue. He disappeared almost two weeks ago-" "Hold it," Sam interrupted. "He disappeared?" Jane asked. "Yeah, isn't that why you're here? I called the cops on him because I thought you guys'd like to know. His parole officer came by once, but nothing since - 'til you guys…" "We're here on an…unrelated matter," Sam informed. "But we'd be glad to look into his disappearance for you," Jane charmed. "If you could give us a look at his apartment, I'd be grateful." Jane beamed a smile at him. The cigar nearly fell out of the man's mouth as he looked at Jane. "Please?" "Oh, right." The man snapped back to reality, and struggled with his giant key ring. "He owes me last month's rent y'know." Sam and Jane walked into the apartment. It was sparse and Spartan. Nothing seemed too unusual though. "Sam, what's missing?" "You mean other than useful furniture, and an entertainment center?" "Yeah. Where are the uncollected papers - and how about this guy's mail - the super didn't complain about the mailbox being full. Someone has to be taking care of things. Even the plants are watered." "Yeah, watered silk - they're fake," Sam concluded, inspecting the plants. "You're right, though. Maybe Mr. New Face has been slipping in, collecting his mail, and slipping back out." "Why come to collect the mail, but not stay in the apartment? Something still doesn't add up. Would you take another crack at the super? Ask about the mail, and anything else he volunteers?" "What are you going to do?" "I'll be playing in the garbage." Sam headed back downstairs, and Jane dug through everything in the apartment. She was about to leave, when a glint caught her eye. "What do we have here?" It was a holographic business card - for Greystoke Industries! There was a hand written phone number on the back. Jane took her find, met up with Sam, and they shared info on the return walk to the precinct. "The mailbox has been clean as a whistle, with no new incoming mail since the "disappearance". "Well, I found a clue." "What'd you get?" "A Greystoke business card, with hand written phone number on the back." Once back at their desks, Sam and Jane were typing away at their computers. Jane's stomach growled loud enough for Sam to hear. "How's that all coffee diet doin' ya?" "I'll catch lunch in a bit." "You mean supper, right?" "It's not that late," Jane turned her wrist, and saw that it was nearly 4:30 by her watch. "I told John I'd stop by at lunch to see him. Damn, I still haven't found anything." "Knock off early - I'll keep digging." "No, Sam, I don't want to stick you with trying to solve my problems." "Since when? Hey, I like John, and that uncle of his is one scary dude. I don't mind, really."
"Hi, John. You kept yourself busy?" He nodded, and said, "Come," as he signaled her nearer with his hand. "What, John?" "I fixed it." Jane face turned to looking worried. "Fixed what? What did you do?" He again signaled with his hand for her to come. "Look. I put them in the right order." Where the keys used to read Q W E R T Y, they now read A B C D E F. "You alphabetized my keyboard." He was so proud. She hated to burst his bubble. "Well, thank you John, but I have to explain something to you. Changing the covers doesn't change the letters. The underneath part is what controls what letter what key makes. I'll have to put them back." "Oh." John dropped his head. "It's OK. I know you were only trying to help me," she explained as she stroked John's hair from the bottom up. "I'm not mad. I'm just glad to see you." "You didn't come for lunch." "I know. I lost track." Jane's stomach growled again, and John galloped away to the kitchen. "John, it's just a hungry noise, no reason to be running away." John galloped back with an apple, and held it for Jane to bite. She began to laugh, and took a big bite. John bit off the other side, and together, they worked that apple into a core. Jane was licking her lips to get the juice off, and John took it as an invitation to kiss her. John was a comforting presence, and as Jane relaxed and reveled in John's kisses, the lack of sleep from the night before caught up with Jane. She yawned in John's face. "Sorry, John." Without a word, John slipped his arm behind Jane's knees, and picked her up. He carried her to her bed, and gently placed her on it. "Sleep." "Join me," Jane beckoned. They snuggled together, and though it wasn't even night yet, they slept. |