"Ben is here." Ginny whispered, "why don't you take a few minutes & go tidy up, I'll distract him in the kitchen."
"No, that's ok Ginny, I'm good to go"
Whitney coughed a little bit, "Um, no your not, trust me Whit, take a few minutes, you'll be glad you did. Give me 2 minutes to get him into the kitchen before you slip into the bathroom, and take your little overnight with you."
"what?"
Ginny just nodded towards the bathroom door and left the bedroom to go offer Ben some coffee in the kitchen.
Whitney got up & grabbed her little overnight bag. When she heard them go into the kitchen she quickly slipped into the bathroom & then understood why Ginny insisted she "tidy up". Her hair was a mess, her mascara was smeared & she looked like she needed to check into a day spa! yikes!
A few minutes later, assuring herself they were still in the kitchen, she went back into the bedroom & grabbed a fresh blouse & pair of jeans to replace her uniform. No socks or shoes, she was ready for something more relaxing & comfortable.
The light was still out in the kitchen when she joined Ben & Ginny. She could see the lights of the little community surrounding the safehouse, including a fast food drive through that didn't seem to far away.
Ben saw her come through the doorway into the kitchen and wasted no time wrapping his arms around her & kissing her on her forehead. His height and strength always made her feel so protected.
"Hey you, I'm so glad to see you got some rest. Are you ok?"
Whitney just smiled up at him for a moment, taking in his brawny good looks, especially those gorgeous green eyes! "Yes, I'm just fine. At least I am now that you are here!"
They talked for a few minutes before they realized Ginny had already gone into the living room, leaving them alone. Ben took advantage of their privacy in the darkened kitchen and this time kissed her on her lips, so gently, yet with a masculinity that made her heart nearly jump out of her body. He then just held her head against his chest and wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Whitney did not struggle, but instead, hugged him back and enjoyed the moment.
They both pulled away at the same time, knowing they couldn't continue.
"hmmm, I think we better get to work Ben, before we have to turn the ac on"
"yea, we better"
They held hands as they walked back into the living room & sat down on the couch to go over the evidence, her notes & quiz Ginny some more. Just as they sat down, Whitney reached in her jeans pocket & pulled out an olive green hair scrunchy & pulled her unruly hair back out of her way.
Ginny smiled at them both, "Before you too get ready to grill me & get your heads stuck in that computer, are either of you hungry?"
Surprisingly, after everything she ate on the way to the safe house, Whitney realized she was hungry. "yes, I guess I am, a little bit anyway. What about you Ben? Hey where's Sammy & the guard?"
"You know what I am a little big hungry too. Sammy & Craig are just outside the door, they wanted to give us a little privacy, let's invite them back in & see what everyone wants to eat?"
After everyone figuring out what was open at this late hour & what everyone wanted to eat, Ben sent Craig to the fast food drive inn with some cash & the keys to the officer's car that Ben had borrowed.
As soon as Craig left, Ben, Whitney, Sam & Ginny started going over the evidence & comparing notes.
"Ok Ginny, I know this is not how we would normally do this, but I'm going to show you a picture of the victim we found in the house & I just want you to say if you know him or not. ok?"
"Yea, sure, I'm ready"
Ben turned it over & slid the picture across the coffee table towards her. He gave her a few moments to look at the picture.
"I think this is the guy I talked to yesterday, in the driveway, but do you have a picture of him before he got to the morgue? It might be easier to say if I could see a picture of him in whatever he was wearing when you found him?"
Ben nodded, "ok, I've got one right here." He repeated the process, flip & slide the picture to her & pause.
This time Ginny didn't need a moment, "Yes, that is definitely mr 'i'm looking for the library'. Look at that suit he's wearing! That's high end. The shirt is a different color from what he was wearing yesterday, but that is him for sure. Do we know his name yet?"
Ben looked first at Ginny, then Whitney, "yes, his name is Martin Dobbins."
Now all 3 of them, Ginny, Whitney & Sammy, were staring at Ben.
Whitney was the first to speak, "Martin Dobbins? As in 'the' Martin Dobbins? As in Dobbins Banking & Trust out of New York City? The same Dobbins B&T that recently branched out in San Antonio?" As in Martin Dobbins 'the' golden boy of the Dobbins family, heir apparent?"
"Yes, that would be the one. Do either of you know why he might be in your kitchen?" Ben looked at both Whitney & Ginny.
Whitney & Ginny looked at each other with astonishment & puzzlement on their faces.
Her dark eyes seemed even darker right now. Her wavy, dark, almost black hair, framed her fragile doll's face and right now, that face seemed even more fragile with fright in her eyes. "No, what in the world? Why would a handsome bachelor, notorious play boy, be in our kitchen at all, let alone lying dead on our kitchen floor? that makes no sense at all!!!"
Ben looked at Whitney.
"Don't look at me Ben, I'm as clueless as she is, and I agree, it makes no sense, no sense at all."
Sammy interrupted, "Hey, don't forget about the picture."
"What picture?" Ginny asked.
Whitney cleared her throat, "I don't understand this either, but we found a picture of you and the boys, the one from the hallway, under the victims, I mean, Mr Dobbins body"
Ben added in, "The glass was cracked, like maybe it fell, or he fell on it? The lab is running the glass & frame & picture for prints right now. We also found a kitchen knife on the floor under the edge of the cupboards by the sink. Any chance maybe you dropped their getting ready for breakfast this morning?"
Ginny looked at Ben like he'd finally lost it, "Really Ben? No, all my dishes were done and everything in it's place when I left this morning."
Ben apologized, explaining he was sure it was all in order, he knew how she was about her housekeeping, but he had to ask, procedure & all that.
Before they got much further, Craig was back with their food & they took a few minutes too eat & just chit chat. It was as if they all knew they needed to lighten the mood a little bit.
As they were finally finishing off their burgers & fries, Whitney suddenly gasped & put her hand on Ben's arm. He'd taken off his jacket & rolled up his sleeves, so the touch of her hand on his skin made him gasp a little too.
"Ben, you never did say, what did mom want to talk to me about?"
Ben wiped his mouth with a paper napkin & took a drink of his sweet tea, "oh yea, well she wouldn't say much to me, only that she needed to talk to you herself as soon as she could. She did ask me a lot of questions about what was going on, why you had to be secreted away to a safe house? Of course, I didn't tell her anything, but you were right Ginny, she's definitely on edge about something. And I don't think it's just worrying about you girls. I told her I would have her call you in the morning. I picked up a burner phone & we'll call her in the morning."
Whitney just looked at Ben for a moment, "Well, I know Mom, she's not going to tell us anything until she's ready, so I guess we'll have to wait until morning."
They spend the next couple of hours going over the rest of the evidence, Sammy's & Whitney's notes. At one point Ben & Whitney realized they were the only two talking. Ginny must have gone to bed, sleeping in the 2nd bedroom that had a twin & a set of bunk beds. The boys had of course taken the bunks. Sammy was snoring on the sofa. The 3rd guard was sleeping in the chair by the door.
Whitney & Ben were sitting on the love seat with her laptop on the coffee table in front of them.
Whitney found herself starting to yawn. "I guess it's time for us to call it quits for tonight, I don't know how much longer I can keep my eyes open."
"Yea, I know what you mean. I'm going to grab a blanket out of the closet & head down to the car"
"You know, under normal circumstances I would agree with your plan. But Sammy's on the couch and his bedroom is empty. I'll feel better, safer, if I know you are in the room next door."
Ben chuckled a little, "what about tempation?, you don't think you'd be at least a little tempted?"
Whitney looked at Ben with a sly little smile, "well yes, maybe a little, but not as much as you!" and she nudged him with her elbow.
Ben leaned over to kiss her but she dodged him, closed the lap top, & put it in front of her. "oh no, don't even start, i'm so tired & i won't be tempted, not now! besides....." & she nodded to the sleeping Sammy & guard.
Ben grabbed her anyway & kissed her on the forehead then her cheek. "good night my love, sweet dreams & Whitney, don't forget to say your prayers!"
"oh you!" she reached up & kissed him on his cheek & then wiggled loose. Whitney practically waltzed into her room & heard him checking the locks on the doors, nudging the guard awake & heading the direction of the hall as she shut her bedroom door.
(by the way, i've given at least 3 hints as to where this story is headed, anyone want to venture a guess?)
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