Matt fumbled for his keys.
The damp chill in the late Fall air caused Matt to walk briskly from his vehicle to the front door of their new home. “Ah! There you are!” he mumbled finally laying hands on the keys. The words had barely slipped from his mouth when the door opened, and the smiling face of Audrey greeted him. He stepped into the foyer and closed the door behind him. Placing his briefcase on the floor, he took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. The moment washed out the hardship of his day and replaced it with the warmth of music unheard that allowed his world to come round to a better place. But, like all things lately, it was an ephemeral moment wiped clean by the disappointment that he understood on her face.
He hung up his jacket and hat in the hall cupboard.
“Well?” Matt said, his eyes scanning the French doors to the living room, open foyer, dining room and spiral staircase.
“Isn’t this becoming a little redundant,” replied Audrey. “We have been here—”
“I know, six months but I can’t help it,” rejoined Matt with a shrug. “I never thought I would own such a house. Especially one on such an expanse of property.”
Audrey smiled. “Get over it. Because you do.” She drew him closer to her and wrapped her arms around him.
“Where areTimothy and Leanne? They’re usually here to greet me.”
Audrey’s askance look and a quick glance at his wristwatch forced him to rethink what he had just said. “Oops! It’s kind of late for that.”
He picked up his valise and the two walked into the kitchen.
Audrey said nothing as she took out his warmed supper from the oven and placed it in front him. She poured two mugs of coffee, one for her, the other for him. Then she sat opposite him.
“How much longer? It’s been two years,” she said.
“The court case has another six months before it begins,” he replied.
“Timothy and Leanne hardly know you. If they do at all since you became Police Commissioner.” She stared at him long and hard. “I hope you have set aside Saturday to celebrate the twins’ birthday?”
“Of course I have,” replied Matt, offended even to be asked. Appetite eluding him, he pushed his plate away. “I’ve set aside the whole weekend.” He patted the valise on the floor beside him. “But, until then, there’s still lots I’ve got to get done.”
Audrey reached out and placed her hand on top of his. “Matt. Talk to me. I mean really talk to me.”
He sighed and briefly looked away. “The guilt from what might have happened that night still eats away at me. It was my oversight! My hubris that got in the way! I could have lost you and the twins if it hadn’t been for Sanjay.”
“But you didn’t!”
“If Sanjay hadn’t had our apartment bugged—”
She interjected, “He did! So, stop beating up on yourself! Hasn’t it dawned on you that if you hadn’t trained him as well as you did, we wouldn’t be here now.”
Her comment hit him like a bucket of freezing cold water on a steamy hot day.
“Aah! There’s the man I married.” Still scrutinizing him she asked, “Why do I get the feeling that that’s still not enough?”
“Loose ends and betrayal.”
“Thanks to Sanjay Gupta, you netted them all that day.”
“Did I?”
“Should I be opening a nice Bordeaux, and we retire to the living room?” she asked.
Ten minutes later they sat angled to each other in their wing chair sipping their wine. Opposite was a blazing fire Matt had built in their fireplace while he waited for Audrey to join him.
“I’m confused,” she began. “The forensic accountant, and the two associates of Doctor Steiger and their families are safe. By the looks of it, in all probability, all those associated with The Bahn-Kart Corporation will be going to jail for a very long time. And the corruption in the Police Department has been exposed and cleaned out. Pray tell, what remains?”
Matt kicked off his shoes and stretched out his legs closer to the fire to warm his feet. “I still don’t know who murdered Sir Reginald.”
“Didn’t Elaine Thornbury confess to his murder?” she asked, puzzled.
He took a long sip of wine before answering. “She did.”
“But you don’t believe her.”
“I don’t.”
“Don’t tell me we’re back to the young boy, Alan, again?”
Matt peered at Audrey in silence while he sipped on his wine.
“Where is Alan, now?” she asked.
“He’s disappeared along with his Aunt Isobella.”
“Any idea where?”
Matt shrugged before reaching for the bottle. “More?” he proffered.
“Where do you think they have gone?” she asked holding out her glass.
“My bet? A Country without an Extradition Treaty with ours.”