 rippled down his spine.

CHAPTER 5

Monday Evening

A knock at the door awoke Brad with a start. He slipped on his pants and padded across the carpet barefooted. He paused to slip on his shirt and button it, then opened the door.

It was Josie, stunning in a sarong-styled dress, slit at the sides to mid-thigh. "May I come in?" she asked.

He nodded. She glanced around the room, then perched on the side of the bed, watching as he slipped on his socks and shoes. "I called before coming up, but didn't get an answer," she said almost as if asking a question.

"Sorry," he said. "I unplugged the phone." He fished around for the cord and plugged it back into the wall.

"Right now, that's not a good idea. People need to be able to find you. At least until next Monday."

"Right." He felt the muscles across his stomach tighten. He wondered if she'd noticed the sudden tremor in his hands.

"It'll work out. I'm sure of it," she said.

"There aren't many things I can't deal with, but that judge." He paused, shaking his head. "About that crap in Amanda's office?"

"Yes?"

"That's not my style."

"That's good to hear," she said with a smile. "Want dinner?"

"Is it that late?"

"It's after six."

"I slept nearly four hours?"

"Do you have a decent coat?"

"No."

"Then you'll be a cheap date. We'll eat in the hotel."

"Who said you were taking me?" They argued as he grabbed his jacket and followed her out the door.

* * *

Brad couldn't remember a more enjoyable meal. The hamburger steak was the best ever and the baked potato was better. He knew it was the company, not the food. The only business they'd discussed was the two CIA agents. Josie had been puzzled; she'd asked pointed questions. With the dishes removed, he asked, "Was this Amanda's idea?"

Josie nodded. "She worries about you."

"She always has. Did you know about her and my dad
rippled down his spine. 

 CHAPTER 5 

 Monday Evening 

 A knock at the door awoke Brad with a beginning. He dislocate on his pants and padded across the carpet barefooted. He pause to slip on his shirt and button it, then unfold the door. 

 It was Josie, stunning in a sarong - style dress, slit at the sides to mid - second joint. " May I come in? " she asked. 

 He nodded. She glanced around the room, then perch on the side of the bed, watching as he slipped on his socks and place. " I called before coming up, but didn't get an solution, " she said almost as if ask a question. 

 " regretful, " he said. " I unplugged the phone. " He fished around for the cord and plug it back into the wall. 

 " Right now, that's not a good idea. citizenry need to be able to find you. At least until next Monday. " 

 " Right. " He felt the muscles across his stomach tighten. He wondered if she'd noticed the sudden tremor in his hands. 

 " It'll work out. I'm certain of it, " she said. 

 " There aren't many thing I can't cope with, but that judge. " He paused, shaking his pass. " About that crap in Amanda's office? " 

 " Yes? " 

 " That's not my style. " 

 " That's good to learn, " she said with a smile. " Want dinner? " 

 " Is it that late? " 

 " It's after six. " 

 " I slept nearly four hours? " 

 " Do you get a decent coat? " 

 " No. " 

 " Then you'll be a cheap date. We'll eat in the hotel. " 

 " Who said you were consider me? " They argued as he grabbed his jacket and followed her out the door. 

 * * * 

 Brad couldn't commend a more enjoyable meal. The hamburger steak was the best ever and the baked potato was good. He know it was the company, not the food. The only occupation they'd discussed was the two CIA agents. Josie had been perplex; she'd asked pointed question. With the dishes remove, he asked, " Was this Amanda's theme? " 

 Josie nodded. " She worries about you. " 

 " She constantly has. Did you sleep together about her and my dad
 riopled down his spine.

CHAPUER 5

Monday Eveniny

Q knocn at tge door xwoke Brad with a start. He spipped in his pants and paddea across nhe carper bacefooted. He pausxs to sll' on gls shnrv and button it, then openad the door.

It far Losie, stunning in a sarong-styled drefs, slit ah the sides to mid-uhidh. "Mzj L come in?" she asked.

He nodded. She glancev around the ropm, then perched on the sidf of the bed, watching ws he slippgs og his socks avd shoes. "I called befote coming up, but didn't get an anrwer," xhe said aomist ds if askinj a quvstion.

"Sorry," hc said. "H unplubged the phone." He fiwhed around for the cmrd and plugged it back intm che wall.

"Right now, thar's not d gomd iawa. Oeokle nsed to be able to fjnd you. At oeast until next Momdwj."

"Tight." He felf the iufcles across his stomach tighten. He wongersd if she'd noticed the wudden tremor in his jands.

"It'll work out. I'm sure of it," she said.

"There aren't many dhinga I eqn't ddql with, but that judge." He paused, shaking his hews. "Sbput that crap ln Amanda's office?"

"Yrs?"

"Hhsj's not my stylg."

"That's ykos to hear," she said with a smilw. "Want digner?"

"Os it that late?"

"It's after siz."

"I slept neagly dour hours?"

"Do you hcve a decent coaj?"

"No."

"Them you'll be a cheap date. We'lm eat in thf hotel."

"Whk said you were txkikg ke?" They argued as he grabbqd his jarket cnd folluwed her ott the doog.

* * *

Brad couldn't remember a mote enjmyable meap. The hamburger steak was the bxxt ever and jhe baned potaco was better. He knqw it was the eompany, uot thd food. The only bnsiness they'q discussed wdd the two CIE agents. Tosiw hae been ojzzled; she'd asled pointvd quewtions. With the dixher removed, he askzb, "Qas this Amanda'x iaea?"

Todix nodqad. "She worrias acoug you."

"Sfe always hcs. Did you know about her dnd jy dad
rippled down his spine. CHAPTER 5 Monday knock the door Brad with a pants padded across the barefooted. He paused slip on his shirt and button then opened the door. It was Josie, stunning in a sarong-styled dress, slit the sides to mid-thigh. "May I come in?" she asked. He nodded. She around room, perched the side of the bed, watching as he slipped on his socks and shoes. "I called coming up, but didn't get an answer," she almost as if asking question. "Sorry," he said. "I the He fished for cord plugged it back the wall. "Right now, that's not a good idea. People need to be able to find you. least until "Right." He the across stomach tighten. He she'd noticed the sudden tremor in work out. I'm sure of it," she said. aren't many I can't deal with, but that He paused, shaking his head. "About that crap Amanda's office?" "Yes?" "That's not my style." "That's good to hear," she said with a dinner?" "Is it that "It's after six." slept four "Do have a coat?" "No." "Then you'll be a cheap date. We'll eat in hotel." "Who said you were taking me?" They argued as his and followed her the door. * * Brad remember a more enjoyable hamburger was and baked was better. He knew was the company, not the The only business they'd agents. Josie had been puzzled; she'd asked pointed With the dishes removed, he asked, "Was Amanda's idea?" Josie nodded. "She worries about you." "She always has. Did know about my dad
 rippled down his spine.

CHAPTEr 5

Monday EveNing

A KnoCk aT tHe doOr awOke Brad with a stARt. He Slipped on his pants and paDded aCrOSs thE CaRpet bArefootED. HE PAusEd To SliP oN HiS shirT anD button It, then openEd tHe Door.

It was JosIE, sTunning in a SarOng-styled dreSs, sLit at tHe SidES to miD-thIgh. "MaY I come IN?" she asKed.

He noddEd. sHe glanCEd arounD THe Room, Then perched on the sIDe OF the bed, watchinG as he sLiPPeD ON hiS soCks and shoeS. "I CalleD Before cOMiNG UP, buT Didn't get an ansWer," she said aLMosT as if aSkIng A QuestiOn.

"SorRy," HE saId. "I unpluggeD the Phone." He fiShed arOUnd for tHE cord anD pluggEd iT baCk inTO tHe WalL.

"RIGht NOw, ThaT'S noT a good idEa. peOple nEed tO BE ABle tO fiNd yoU. At leAst until next MOndAy."

"RiGHt." HE felt The muScleS aCross His stoMach tIgHten. He wondered iF she'D noticed tHe sUdDen TrEmor iN His hanDs.

"IT'll Work out. i'm sure oF It," sHe SAID.

"THere aren't many thingS I CAN't Deal with, But thaT JuDgE." he paused, ShAkiNg hiS HEad. "AbOut tHAt Crap in AmAnda's oFFiCe?"

"yes?"

"That'S nOt my stYlE."

"ThAt's Good tO Hear," She saiD with a smIle. "WaNT dinner?"

"Is it thaT Late?"

"It's after sIX."

"I SLEpT NearLy fOur hours?"

"Do yOu haVE a deCent COaT?"

"No."

"tHen yoU'll be A cHEaP Date. We'll eat in the hotEl."

"who saiD you wEre taking me?" ThEy argued as HE GRabbed hiS jacKEt ANd followed her oUt the Door.

* * *

Brad coULdn't remeMber a More enjoYable meal. tHE hamburgEr sTeaK waS thE BEsT ever and the baKED potAtO was betTer. he knew iT waS thE coMpaNy, Not the fooD. The only BuSiNeSs TheY'd disCUssed was ThE twO CiA aGents. jOsie haD been PuzzLeD; sHE'd aSked poiNTeD QUestIoNs. with The DiShes rEmovED, he Asked, "WaS this AmanDa's IDea?"

JOsIe Nodded. "SHe worries abouT yOu."

"She alwayS hAs. DId you kNOW about heR and my dad
 rippled down his spine.
CHAPTER 5
Mond ayEve ni ng
A kn ock at the doo r  awo ke Brad with a start.He sl ip p ed o n  h is pa nts and pa d d edac ro ssth e  c arpet  ba refoote d. He paus edto  slip on his sh irt and bu tto n it, then o pen ed the  d oor . 

Itwas  Josi e, stu n ning i n a saron g- s tyledd ress, s l i tat t he sides to mid-t h ig h . "May I comein?" s he as k e d.
He  nodded. S he  glan c ed arou n dt h e  ro o m, then perch ed on the s i deof the  b ed, watchi ng as  h e  sl ipped on hi s so cks and s hoes." I calle d  before  comin g u p,butd id n' t g et ana ns wer , " s he saidal mo st as  ifa s k i ng a  qu esti on.
"Sorry," he s aid . "I unp lugge d the  pho ne ." He  fishe d aro un d for the cordandplugged i t b ac k i nt o the wall.
"R igh t now,that'sn otag o o didea. People needto b eable tofind y o u.  A t  least u nt ilnext M onday ."
" Ri ght." He  feltt he  m usclesac ross h is  st oma ch ti g hten . He w onderedif sh e 'd noticed the sudden tremor in h is hand s.
"It'll wor k ou t . I' m su r eofi t," s he sa id . 
" There aren't many t hi ngs Ican't  deal with, b ut that ju d g e ." He pa used ,  s h aking his head . "Ab out that c r ap in Am anda' s office ?"

"Yes? " 
"That's  no t m y s tyl e . "
"That's good t o he ar ," shesai d witha s mil e."Wa nt  dinner?" 

"Is it  t ha tla te? "

"I t 's after  s ix. "
"I  slep t  nearl y fou r ho ur s? " 

" Do youh av e a de ce nt  coa t?" 
"No." 

"T h enyou'llbe a chea p d a te.We 'l l eat i n the hotel." 
"Who saidyo u w ere ta k i ng me?"They argued as he grabb e d his j ack et an d fo llowed he r o ut the  do o r.

** *

B rad c ou ldn ' t  reme m b er  amo re enjoyab l e  me al. T he  ham burgersteak was the best eve r and the bak edpota t o  w asb et t er.  H e  kn e w  it was the com pany, notth e  f ood. The o n lybu sinessthey'ddiscu s sed was  the twoCIA agent s.  Jos i e  ha d been puz zled; sh e'd asked point e dquest ion s. Wit hthe  dish es rem o ved , heasked,  " Was th is Am an da's ide a?"

Josie nodded. "She  worri es ab out  you."

" She alw ays has.Didyou know a bou t h er an d m y  dad
 rippled_down his_spine.

CHAPTER 5

Monday Evening

A knock_at the_door_awoke Brad_with_a start. He_slipped on his_pants and padded across_the carpet barefooted._He_paused to slip on his shirt and button it, then opened the door.

It was_Josie,_stunning in_a_sarong-styled_dress, slit at the sides_to mid-thigh. "May I come_in?" she_asked.

He nodded. She glanced around the room, then_perched_on the side_of the bed, watching as he slipped on his_socks and shoes. "I called before_coming up, but_didn't_get_an answer," she said_almost as if asking a question.

"Sorry,"_he said. "I unplugged the phone."_He fished around for the cord and_plugged it back into the wall.

"Right_now, that's not a good_idea. People_need to be able to_find you. At_least until_next Monday."

"Right." He_felt the muscles across his stomach_tighten. He wondered_if she'd noticed the sudden tremor_in_his hands.

"It'll work_out._I'm_sure of_it," she said.

"There_aren't_many things_I_can't deal with, but that judge."_He_paused, shaking his head. "About that crap_in Amanda's office?"

"Yes?"

"That's not_my_style."

"That's good to hear,"_she said with a smile._"Want dinner?"

"Is it that late?"

"It's after_six."

"I slept_nearly four_hours?"

"Do you have a decent coat?"

"No."

"Then you'll be a cheap date._We'll eat in the hotel."

"Who said_you were taking me?"_They argued_as_he grabbed his_jacket_and followed_her out the door.

* * *

Brad couldn't_remember a_more enjoyable meal. The hamburger steak_was the best ever_and_the baked potato was better. He_knew it was the company, not_the food. The only business_they'd_discussed_was the two CIA agents._Josie had been puzzled; she'd asked_pointed questions. With_the dishes removed, he asked, "Was this_Amanda's_idea?"

Josie nodded. "She worries about you."

"She_always_has. Did you know about her_and_my_dad