12 Chapter 12

The cab pulls up outside the gates to a park some distance from his hotel. Frank pulls himself from it and looks about for people that could be watching him.Willing the cab to leave. Wondering if the cabbie would remember him if ever questioned by the police.

Walking a random pathway, he is drawn towards to a random bench beside an idyllic pond.His legs could not support the guilt he was carrying. Feeling the coldness of the wooden bench as he sat. The morning dew had still to dry, but Frank sat down anyway. That would be the least of his worries. Dazed, he looks around hoping no one was about. A white swam guilds smoothly on the surface of the calm water. Oblivious to the threatening world around it.Frank sits numb. His mind in desperate denial as to what he had just done.And what was about to happen. Wondering if he should go back and undo what he had just set in motion. Was there time to warn the young woman in 5F?F for Freddy, he recites the phrase like a nursery rhyme.But it was too late.He could not risk showing his face again. Implicating himself further. If only he had taken the girls number. To warn her. To leave the building.

His mind played out the impending disaster. Knowing he was the one that would cause it.Wishing that it was all just a bad dream. That Marilyn would wake him and be by his side. Back in Seattle. But the park looked nothing like Seattle. An eerie feeling came over him.He was about to kill another human being.Shoving his hands deep into his pockets going as if to hide himself. His head sunk to his chest and he stared into the space before him. Letting his mind to go blank. He slipped from this world into another. A sanctuary. Grimm's world.

"National Security... The boys overseas..." He muttered to himself,reaffirming Smith's words.He couldn't let them die because of a traitor. A spy. But Frank had doubts.An intuition that said, Smith was not all he said he was. Yet here he sat.Entangled in Smith's web.

"God help me."The serenity of the lake. The graceful swam. Weeping willows dipping long thin limbs into the dark waters. The blue cloudless sky. The idyllic sun suspended in the sky by the hand of God. Then suddenly Frank's world imploded.An explosion was suddenly heard echoing over the park. Pulling him from his warm sanctuary. Sounding from the direction of the apartment building.Closing his eyes he visualized the moment. Recalling the apartment as he remembered it. Clean. Intact. A door opening. The man reaching for the light switch.

Then... A bright light... And silence... There was nothing. The guilt,however patriotic, would not allow him to move.His mind began to play out the exact moment like a broken record. Over and over and over and over again in his head.Wailing sirens squawked, rushing urgently to the disaster. The carnage. Who else was harmed? What incident people had Smith written off as collateral damage? Friendly fire? All in the name of National Security?

Closing his eyes again, the idyllic scenery was not so idyllic. He had become the deliverer of death. How could he face Marilyn? He had saved her from deportation. But at the cost of a man's life. A man responsible for the lives of soldiers overseas.The moral scales of Frank's mind leveled. As patriotism balanced the immoral sin.Frank waited for an hour to pass before walking back to the hotel. It would be along walk, but one that would consume time. Procrastinating the inevitable. Dark smoke ascended the heavens, giving him an indication of which way to head.Cab's slowed down hawking for fares, but he just waved them on. In no rush to get back to his hotel.

Turning the corner onto the street, discovers fire trucks still pumping water onto the fifth level apartment. Its window's blown out. Cloudy grey smoke smoldered from the open scars. Outside walls Blackened with charring. On the street an ambulance was in attendance to the injured.

Frank looks about for the young woman he had meet in the elevator.But she sees him first. And waves out to him. Rushing over to him still wrapped in a blanket.

"What happened?" Frank asked looking up at the building.

"Gas explosion... Some guy must have left the gas on... Didn't make it...He's dead... Thomas... I think his name was."

"Anyone else hurt?"

"Not really... Just shock and smoke... We all got out in time....Hope your friend was okay?"

"Yeah I hope so... I better give call him."

"What about your flight?"

"Delayed until five... Need to check out of the hotel here... Would you like to come up for a drink while I wait?"

"Sure... Why not... It will beat hanging out here on the street."

"What's your name?" Frank asks.

"Juliet... But people call me Julie."

"I'm Frank..." The name slipped out.

"Nice to meet you Julie."

"Nice to meet you to Frank." Happy to have re-connected with him.

"Your accent, what is that?"

"French... But I moved to states years ago... Can't seem to sake it."

"Don't... It's nice."

'What the hell are you doing Frank? Frank's mind warns him.'What would Marilyn say if she ever found out?''It's good enough for her... It's good enough for you. Besides Smith could fuck it up any time...' Frank's mind countered its own thoughts.'Leave me alone will you.' Frank argued back to himself.

"You okay?" Asks Julie seeing Frank looking troubled.

"I'm good thanks Julie... Just a few things on my mind. Let's get you upstairs. Freshen you up... Get you a drink... I certainly need one."

"Sound's nice."

"Make yourself at home. I have a few hours before I need to be at the airport."Julie goes to the window and looks down at the scene below.

Smoke still smoldering from Fifth floor window. Debris and rubble scattered on the street below. Extended fire ladders and water cannons dousing the interior. Adding steam to the smoke.

"Mind if I have a shower, I'm feeling rather dirty with all that smoke." Julie asks.

"Sure... over there. Towel and robes."What was he doing allowing the woman into his life. Into his room? Marilyn was more than enough for him.'She's not permanent', his conscious argued. 'Julie is young, but...'He had not completed the thought when Julie reappeared from the bathroom wearing a white robe.Standing before him she takes his hand and pulls slowly to bathroom. With little or no resistance, he allows himself to be undressed. Frank unties the robe and reveals Julie's very naked body. Youthful, firm, desirable. She kisses him.And he kisses her back. With harbored passion.'What the hell.' Now justifying the infidelity.Hands explore each other's body. As Julie pulls Frank into the shower. Water rushes over them, cooling their heated foreplay. Julies' hands roam Frank's taunt body and found what he was looking for. Frank cups her breasts and squeezes the already swollen nipples. Heavy breathing is drowned out by the sound of water rushing over them.Kneeling before him, she looks up with large green eyes.

Her pony tails wet and limp. Frank throws his head back as she takes his not so limp swollen member in her mouth. Rocking her back and forth. Water running down his body and onto hers.Thoughts of Marilyn appear in his mind. Allowing her to watch on. Adding to the sensual adventure. Enough, thought Frank. It was time to return the favor and kills the water. Leading her dripping onto the large bed. Consumed with passion, two complete strangers made love.

Julie groaned dirty French words as Frank trust into her from every position.Before falling exhausted beside his new lover. Mistress. Sirens outside squawked in protest to their infidelity. Thomas was dead. The country was safe. Marilyn was safe. Julie was safe.And Frank was satisfied.

"Stay another day." Julie asked pulling Franks arms around her, not wanting him to leave.

"I wish I could..." He replies searching for words that would allow him to stay longer.

"But I have to get back..."'Or do I?" He thought. 'What was back there that was so urgent?

'"Maybe one more day." He conceded.Julie rolls over and kisses him with a smile. Happiness radiated from her. As if a sadness had been lifted. Looking into his eyes, she tried to read Frank's mind.

"You're a dark one Frank." She makes her assessment of him.Sitting on top of him. She grinds her heated loins along Frank's cock. Now stirring back to life.

"Are all French girls as bad as you?"

"Of course." Declares Julie.

"Have you not been to France?"

"No. Not really... Only what I read about."

"We must go one day... You will love it. I will show you everything."Rubbing and pressing her breasts on Frank's face. His mouth and tongue searching for her nipples and suckling them like a new born baby.

"Good boy." Moans Julie, grinding herself onto him.Any thought of Marilyn had been wash away in the shower. Frank had to keep his options open. Turning Julie over to take her from behind. Raising her ass into the air she rubbed herself up and down Frank's rubbing post.

And groaned as Frank impaled her. The bed rocked against the wall. Frank wondered if the neighbor was home. Deciding in the end, he did not care. Becoming too much for him to hold, he shutters his load into her. Panting, the lovers lay side by side staring at the ceiling.

"Unbelievable." Frank manages to say between the quickened breaths.Thinking he was reasonably fit, but discovering what the youthful Julie had taken out for him.

"How old are you... can I ask?" Asked Frank now wondering the legality of the circumstances.

"Old enough..." Relied Julie, smiling with satisfaction.

"You?"

"Too old..." Frank laughs.Laying in each other's arms they would succumb to sleep and the day outside begins to dim.Suddenly Frank is awoken.

"Oh shit!" Saids Frank, remembering Marilyn would be expecting him.

"What's the matter?" Worried something was wrong between them.

"Ah... I better extend my room reservation... You stay here... Help yourself to mini bar... I'll head down to the front desk."

"You could do that from the phone here."

"I suppose... But the... The company I work for booked the room for one night... Business and all that... Tonight would be personal. If you know what I mean."

"Oh I see... You better go sort it out."

"You be okay for a while?" Asks Frank.

"I'll be fine Frank... You go... But come back okay."Throwing on his clothes, Frank tidies himself to be presentable and heads downstairs to the hotel foyer.Now safe from Julie's ears, he calls Marilyn.

"Hello sweetie... Bad man here."

"How is your trip?"

"Good, very good. So much so I have to stay another night... You don't mind?" Saids Frank hoping Marilyn doesn't see through hi lies.

"Maybe you have a girl-friend there?" Marilyn begins to tease.

"None in Flint, only in Seattle... Her name is Marilyn... You might know her." Saids Frank appealing to Marilyn's sensitivity.

"Say hello for me... Tell her I love her and I'll be home soon."

"You have sweet tongue bad man... But I will tell her... See you soon."

"Bye sweetie." And Frank kills the call. That was close.Then his mobile vibrates with an incoming message. Frank opens it.

"Transfer complete."Anxiously Frank checks his bank account as to what had been transferred.The first deposit of twenty-five thousand was already too much. Then Frank sees a second amount had been deposited.

"Christ!" Frank curses to the amount.'Fifty thousand to kill someone' thought Frank.Not wanting to keep it. But the thought of losing it also caused him as much mental anguish. The moral scales of his conscious leveled again. Weighing the good with the bad. Fifty thousand would wipe his debts. Give him a life again.No pressure of having to find a job for a while. Allowing the endless possibilities to fill his mind. Sensing a new life before him.Frank approaches the front desk to book an additional night's stay.

"That's already been arranged Mister Pecks." Advises Prentice, the Hotel Manager.

"I'm sorry I don't understand..." Asks Frank confused.

"Mister Smith has arranged it for you... Enjoy your stay."

The Manager smiles as if he knew the reason of the extension. A perverted smile creeped across his face.Frank looks about the lobby expecting to see Smith standing there. Where was he? How did he know? Then sees the cameras on the ceiling. Smith sees everything.'The bastard.' Frank concedes the damning thought.Frank had been blooded and Smith had his number. Right down to Julie in his room. Was she working for Smith too? Trying to reconcile her movements.Unable to find a connection. Her behavior had been... Seductive at best.Dismissing the thought, he returned to the room. Julie had made herself comfortable on the bed. A glass of white wine in her hand. Reminding Frank of Marilyn.

"All sorted." Saids Frank.

"What do you fancy to eat?"

"You." Julies suggests.

"For dessert... How about dinner?"

"Can't go out. My clothes are at my place. Probably smoke stained by now."

"They probably do room service here... We can shopping for some new clothes tomorrow... How does that sound?"

"You know your way to a girl's heart... Can you afford it?"

"Apparently I can." Grinned Frank.